RAMS CONTINUE REIGN OVER RICHMOND WITH 8-4 WIN
Otto’s two-RBI single keys five-run seventh
RICHMOND, Va. – Even the weather couldn’t stop the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team’s reign over cross-town rival, the University of Richmond.
Playing a day later than originally scheduled, the Rams posted a five-run seventh inning to break the game open and pick up an 8-4 victory over the Spiders on Thursday afternoon at Pitt Field. The victory was the Black & Gold’s 10th straight over UR.
The Rams has now won seven of their past nine games to improve to 17-12 on the year, while the Spiders fall to 14-16 in 2009.
”I’m really pleased with our all-around effort today,” Head Coach Paul Keyes said. “We came up with timely hits and got quality pitching from all three guys we sent to the mound.”
VCU would get the offense started early with a walk to junior Andrew Dimino (Greenwood, Ind.) to lead off the game. After Dimino picked up his 15th stolen base of the year, classmate Doug Otto (Jefferson City, Mo.) moved him to third with a single up the middle. Senior Justin Wright (Yorktown, Va.) followed by connecting on a two-RBI single into centerfield to give the Rams a 2-0 advantage.
Dimino came through again in the top half of the second with a clutch two-out RBI single that scored junior Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa.) and pushed VCU’s lead to 3-0.
Richmond would get to VCU starter Phillip Deane (Richmond, Va.) in the third with a single by Billy Barber and a miscue to put runners on first and third. Victor Croglio came up big for the Spiders with a three-run home run just over the left field fence to tie the game at 3-3.
Deane and UR starter Zach Jung would lock into a pitcher’s duel for the next four innings, keeping each opposing offense off the scoreboard as the game headed into the seventh at 3-3.
”We’ve really worked with Phillip to try and get him going after some tough outings early this year,” Keyes said. “He’s done a great job of hanging tough and he is really going to be a big piece of the puzzle for us done the stretch.”
The Rams would blow the game open in the top of the seventh when Dimino drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a double by senior R.J. Schenk (Yorktown, Va.). Facing a two-strike count, Otto smoked a two-RBI single through a drawn in infield to reclaim the lead in VCU’s favor, 5-3.
Junior M.L. Morgan (Petersburg, Va.) delivered a sacrifice fly two batters later to score Otto and push the advantage to 6-3. RBI singles by Leskiw and senior Carlos Rodriguez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) capped off the five-run inning and gave the Black & Gold a 8-3 lead.
Junior Will Hirsch (Suffolk, Va.) would take over from there, posting three straight scoreless innings and giving way to classmate Darryl Stringfield (Wakefield, Va.) in the ninth, who record the final two outs to pick up his first save of the year.
“It’s no secret that Will has struggled this year, but today he was outstanding,” Keyes said. “He did a great job relying on his curveball to keep their hitters off balance. String came in and did exactly what we need him to do and closed out the win.”
Offensively, three of the Rams top four hitters (Dimino, Otto and Wright) had two hits apiece with Dimino and Otto each adding two runs scored. Leskiw was the other Ram with a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
Hirsch (1-1) picked up his first collegiate victory, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing just three hits and one earned run. Deane was outstanding his five innings of work, limiting the Spiders to just three this and two earned runs, while striking out five.
Billy Falasco (0-3) was saddled with the loss after giving up four earned in 1.1 innings of work.
The Rams are back in action this weekend in a crucial Colonial Athletic Association series with league-leading George Mason. Game times are set for 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon.