VCU got even with Virginia Tech this weekend … for this season at least.
After dropping a home game to the Hokies on April 5, the Rams took back-to-back games over the weekend to leave the season series tied a two apiece.
VCU got homeruns from rookie shortstop Sergio Miranda and senior catcher Pete Farina in Sunday’s 7-3 win over the Hokies.
Junior right-hander Marcus Davis threw 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits and three walks to pick up the win and improve his record to 4-1 this season. Brett Walker slammed the door on the Hokies with 3.1 innings, throwing 3.2 innings and giving up just one run in relief duty.
Farina, the team captain, provided the firepower with his two-run shot to left field in the eighth inning, his sixth homer of the year. He went 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBI on Sunday and 4 for 9 for the weekend.
Farina’s is hitting .444 (12 of 27) with nine RBI in the past seven games after a four-game stretch in which he was hitting just .147 (2 for14).
Miranda went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI. His solo shot in the sixth inning- his first of the season- gave the Rams a 3-2 lead.
He hit an RBI double in the ninth inning, plating junior outfielder Joe Meador as the Rams added insurance runs late in the game.
Miranda, who has earned Colonial Athletic Association rookie of the week honors twice this season, is hitting .315 with nine doubles and 19 RBI.
Third-day starter Marcus Davis bounced back from a pair of tough starts the past two weekends, beating Tech’s Bobby West (7.1 innings, six runs, five earned) and capping a weekend of solid pitching performances for a team that will need it down the stretch.
Wayne Renfro gave up three runs to the Hokies on Saturday, only two of them were earned. He threw 6.1 innings, and the only reason he didn’t pick up his second win of the season is because the Rams offense waited until the ninth inning to erupt.
Tech’s Jake Chaney had pitched eight innings of one-run ball and took a 3-1 lead into the final frame, but with pinch runner Charlie Winkler on second, VCU’s Trai Harris tagged Chaney for a two-run shot to tie the game at 3.
Kwan Evan stepped up three batters later and sent another two-run homer over the left field fence to give the Rams a 5-3 lead.
Walker came on in the bottom of the inning to earn the save after Cody Eppley threw 1.2 scoreless ball for his second win of season.
The offensive spurt had to come way too late for Harold Mozingo’s liking. VCU’s ace only struck out three batters, but gave up just two earned runs- the fewest he’s allowed all season.
He was out dueled, however, by Tech’s Ryan Kennedy, who threw all nine innings for and gave up just one run. The Rams managed nine hits off the junior right-hander, but an RBI single in the second inning was all the run support the Rams could muster for Mozingo, who took his second loss of the season.
The Rams travel to Chapel Hill on Wednesday for a no conference game against North Carolina then resume CAA play with a weekend series against George Mason at the Petersburg Sports Complex.
The Patriots took two of three game against Hoftra to improve to 20-11 and 7-5 in the CAA, just 1.5 games behind VCU for second place.