The Rams defeated Hofstra, 13-7, this past Sunday giving VCU a series sweep of the Pride and its fourth consecutive victory.
“Anytime you sweep in this league, it’s a good weekend,” said VCU head coach Paul Keyes.
The Rams fell behind early, trailing 2-0 after two innings, but VCU would strike back.
The Rams scored a run in the third inning after junior Doug Otto (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias) hit a double that scored junior Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James).
In the fourth inning, sophomore Michael Cheatham (Chesterfield/Matoaca) tied the game at 2-2 with RBI groundout.
Hofstra answered with three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.
The Rams countered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Justin Wright (Yorktown/Grafton) smashed a two-run triple in the right-centerfield gap. Sophomore Joe Van Meter (Oyster Bay, N.Y./St. Dominic) hit a sacrifice fly that scored Wright. Two batters later, Junior Nathan Furry (Salem/Salem) hit a single up the middle to score Cheatham, giving the Rams a 6-5 lead after five innings.
The teams traded runs in the sixth to give the Rams a 7-6 lead.
It was all VCU from that point on.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Furry hit another shot up the middle, scoring two more runs. Furry finished the game 4-for-5 with two RBIs.
Leskiw and junior Richard Gonzalez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/PRBA) hit RBI singles in the inning. VCU held an 11-6 lead after seven innings.
Hofstra scored one more run in the top of the eighth but VCU scored two runs in the bottom eighth after Hofstra misplayed a Gonzalez single in left field allowing Leskiw and Furry to score, giving the Rams a 13-7 victory.
“It was good to see us get into their bullpen and have some big innings and execute late,” Keyes said.
The 7-8-9 hitters were the key to the victory.
Furry, Leskiw and Gonzalez went a combined 9-for-15 with 5 RBIs.
“We thought coming in, especially in our league, our strength is one through nine,” Keyes said. “Our top four are not going to carry us every day, so we’ve got to have our bottom.”
The win improved the Rams’ record to 4-2 in the CAA and 14-10 overall.
The Rams return to action Tuesday at VMI. The Rams defeated VMI, 17-8, on March 31.
“They’re tough kids,” Keyes said. “They’ll be out for revenge.”