VCU Baseball puts away Delaware Blue Hens

In the first game of a three-game series, VCU Baseball defeated Delaware 8-2. The Rams scored three times in the first inning and the Blue Hens gave up five errors to aid VCU in their victory in Delaware.

Justin Orenduff started for VCU, pitching six innings, allowing only one unearned run. Orenduff walked five and fanned seven Delaware batters for the win. Orenduff’s personal record moves up to 6-2 with the win against the Blue Hens. Cla Meredith pitched the final three innings for the Rams, earning his third save of the season. VCU is now 31-10, 12-3 in the CAA.

Delaware starter Mark Michael earned the loss in six innings pitched, giving up six hits and four runs, one of which was unearned. Michael also had nine strike outs against VCU, as he fell to 2-3. Delaware fell to 14-26 for the season, 4-8 in the CAA.

In the first inning, Eric Latura got on base with a single to left field. Justin Mattison then singled to right field and Latura advanced to third. Mattison advanced on a wild pitch and Latura crossed the plate to put VCU up by one. Anthony Granato was walked and advanced to second on a Blue Hens error two outs later. Mattison crossed the plate on the same Delaware error. Jeff Parrish doubled to right field, driving home Granato to score the final run of the inning and put VCU up 3-0.

In the bottom of the third, Delaware struck back when Brent Rogers scored after advancing on a wild pitch, and crossing the plate on an error.

VCU scored again in the fourth inning, retaking their three-run lead. Jose Pabon got on after being hit by a pitch and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Paul Swack. Later in the inning, Pabon advanced on a wild pitch and then scored on a passed ball.

In the seventh, VCU put up two more runs. Granato scored on an error after stealing third base. Parrish then batted in Lopaze, who was walked earlier in the inning, with a single to left field to put VCU up 6-1.

In the bottom of the eighth the Blue Hens earned their only other run of the evening when Nick Decarlo hit a solo homerun to left field.

VCU scored their final two runs of the game in the ninth. Mattison got on first after being hit by a pitch, and then advanced to second on an error from second base. Mattison then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Granato was then walked and advanced to second base on a balk that also sent home Mattison. Lopaze hit a double down the right field line to drive in Granato for the final VCU run. Parrish led VCU with three hits while Latura went 2-5 including one run.

The second game of the series was postponed due to bad weath. VCU returns to home Tuesday April 29 when they face Virginia at 7 p.m.