Middle-innings performance lifts Rams

VCU scored three runs in the third and fourth innings to overcome a big third inning by Wagner to defeat the Seahawks 8-5.

The victory gives the Rams their first season-sweep since taking all three games from Fordham last month.

After three scoreless innings, Wagner broke the ice with three runs in the top of the fourth. Centerfielder Damian Csakai started it with a single to left and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Joseph DiGeronimo. Joe Conforti also singled and was later driven in by Peter Delleani’s double up the middle. Delleani later scored on Matt Mastrianni’s single.

However, the Rams would not go quietly. Designated hitter John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk and a stolen base. He advanced to third on Chris Jackson’s (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) single and scored on Justin Wright’s (Yorkton, Va./Grafton) single to right. Jackson later scored on a balk, and Wright stole third and scored on an error to tie the score at 3-3.

The Rams would get all the runs they needed for victory in the fifth. Brad Bonney (Norfolk, Va./Maury) led the inning with a double to centerfield and scored two batters later on a single by shortstop Sergio Miranda (Baymon, Puerto Rico). Leonard came up big again, scoring Matthew Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) on a single, and Jackson knocked another single, bringing in Miranda and making the score 6-3.

The Score

VCU 8
WAGNER 5

The Rams scored two more in the seventh and gave up runs in the seventh and eighth to come to the final score. Bill Wieland (Marlton, N.J./Okaloosa Walton CC) earned the win for VCU, pitching five innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and striking out two. Cody Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) and Luke Pisker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) came on in relief, combining for six strikeouts while giving up two runs on five hits.

VCU improves to 15-9 with the victory and plays next at VMI.