Above-average Joe lifts Rams past Tigers

Joe Meader may be the only student on campus who enjoyed last weekend more than the weekend of spring break.

The junior center fielder hit .733 (11-for-15) in the Rams’ three-game set with at Towson, scoring six runs and driving in another four for VCU, which took two games from the Tigers in the opening Colonial Athletic Association series for both teams.

The Rams sandwiched a pair of wins around Towson’s 11-9, victory on Saturday, beating the Tigers 12-9 Friday afternoon at Schuerhols Park and 6-3 on Sunday.

The series win puts the Rams (2-1 CAA, 14-5) a game behind defending CAA champion UNC Wilmington, which shut down the typically explosive offense of visiting William & Mary for a sweep in its first weekend of CAA play.

Meador upped his season average to .427, going 4 for 5 in Friday and Saturday’s games and 3 for 5 on Sunday. Meador, the Rams leadoff hitter, is hitting at the second-best clip on the team behind sophomore second baseman Scott Sizemore (.485).

Sizemore, who paces the Rams in 10 statistical categories through 18 games this season, continued his tear going 4 for 12 for the series, including a grand slam in the 7th inning of Saturday’s game albeit in a losing effort.

Rams’ pitcher Harold Mozingo earned his fourth win of the season despite allowing his highest run total all season. The Rams, however, provided their ace with more run support than the three runs per game he had been getting

The Rams and Tigers combined for 21 runs in Mozingo’s start.

Towson’s Pat Fields and Mark Chiccini stung the sophomore right-hander with homers in the Tigers’ three-run fourth inning, and first baseman Jason Maxey took him deep in the fifth.

VCU then tagged Towson for a pair of homeruns, one in the fifth inning by catcher Pete Farina, who went 4 for 4 that game with two RBI and four runs scored, and another the next inning of Meador’s bat to give the Rams a 7-6 lead, which they never relinquished.

Mozingo then got things under control in the sixth and seventh innings, striking out three Tigers before leaving the game with a season-high 11 Ks.

Third-day starter Marcus Davis (3-0) kept his record flawless, allowing 10 hits, striking out five batters and walking just two to pick up his third straight win without a loss.

Davis left his team with a 5-run lead when he hopped off the mound in the seventh inning, and freshman right-hander Brett Walker closed the door as Towson tried to rally late, striking out Tigers’ catcher Ryan Schreiter to earn the first save of his career.

The Rams will travel to Radford Wednesday for a midweek game before heading to Harrisonburg on Friday for a three-game set with CAA foe James Madison.

In other CAA games:

UNCW 7, William & Mary 6: The Seahawks rallied in the ninth inning behind a two-out single by catcher Chris Hatcher that drove in centerfielder Jason Appel for the Seahawks winning-run in their 7-6 victory over the Tribe. Hatcher was 2 for 4 with plus the game-winning RBI. Outfielder Chris Rahl went 3 for 4 for the Tribe with 4 RBI and two runs scored in a losing effort. With the win, the Tribe completed a three-game sweep and took first place in the CAA.

George Mason 3, Old Dominion 1: Patriots starter Brett Hits put the clamps on the Monarchs bats for seven innings, striking out five while allowing only one run on eight hits in George Mason’s road win over the Monarchs. Three runs in the fourth inning was all Hitz needed to earn his third win of the season.

Hofstra 9, Delaware 6: The Pride poured five runs on the Blue Hens in the ninth inning, then fended off Delaware’s late spurt to earn a win on the road to avoid being swept. Hofstra’s second in three games with the Blue Hens. Hofstra third baseman Ricky Caputo was 4 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored for the Pride, which snapped a four game skid with the win.

Penn State 1, James Madison 0: Dukes pitcher Jacob Cook threw 7.2 innings, striking out five and allowing just four hits, but Nittany Lions catcher Aaron Greenfield made him pay for a mistake in the seventh inning, hitting a solo shot that ended up being the difference in the Dukes final game before opening conference play this weekend against VCU.