VCU faces challenge in Tribe after Rahl

The VCU baseball team has payback on their minds this weekend.

Starting tomorrow, VCU plays a three-game series against Colonial Athletic Association foe William and Mary, in Williamsburg.

The team is looking for revenge after a 12-1 loss on Feb. 25, very early in the season. William and Mary has also taken three of the past four games against VCU.

Currently VCU is ranked second (10-5, 26-17) in the CAA while William and Mary is ranked fifth (8-7, 28-14).

The Rams will start sophomore ace Justin Orenduff Friday (3-4) against a very potent Tribe offense, which is leading the CAA in team batting average, .334, and in total runs scored, 385.

Orenduff, a possible first-round selection in this summer’s Major League Baseball Draft, currently has an ERA of 2.71 and leads the team with 96 strikeouts. His win-loss record can be contributed to the teams lack of run support when he is on the mound. An average of 3.9 runs.

Freshman pitcher Harold Monzingo, who has been a huge surprise for the VCU Rams, will get the start Saturday. He has a 6-2 record and an ERA of 2.57, which is fourth in the CAA.

Finishing off the rotation will be senior Matt Prendergast, who took his first loss last week against George Mason. His 8-1 record is twelfth in the nation and his 2.04 ERA puts him at second in the CAA.

VCU’s 3.43 ERA makes them the stingiest pitching staff in the conference. They are going to need continued success this weekend since William and Mary is leading the CAA in slugging and also possesses one of the top players in the nation in right fielder Chris Rahl.

Currently Rahl, a sophomore, leads the NCAA in runs scored (61), is third in RBI (64), and seventh in home rums (17).

Though VCU also has some fire power of its own.

Third baseman Anthony Granato is hitting .373 and with 36 steals in 40 attempts he is looking to break VCU’s single-season record of 49 steals.

Altogether the team has 93 stolen bases, which destroys the next closest school, JMU, who has 69.

Outfielder Joe Meader is second on the team with a .327 batting average. He hit .454 (5 for 11) with three runs scored and three RBI in last weekends series with conference-leading George Mason (13-12, 28-11).

The Rams .969 fielding percentage tops the CAA, they must continue to play solid defense over the weekend.

A source close to the team said this series, though not for the number one spot in the conference, is huge since there are only four conference series remaining.

The source suggested shutting down the hot Rahl for starters.