No. 11 Virginia rolls over VCU, 8-1

“They have three or four guys that probably should be playing pro ball right now. This was a tough game for us.”

This is how VCU coach Paul Keyes described the University of Virginia’s baseball team.

The Cavaliers came to Richmond as one of only four members of the 30-win club in the country, and the 11th ranked team in the most recent USA Today poll.

An hour-long rain delay moved first pitch time from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Despite a slow start, UVA was able to overcome the Rams winning 8-1.

From the opening inning, the Cavs pitched outstandingly.

Starter Matt Packer went five innings, giving up only two hits. Then, relievers Robert Poutier and Neal Davis combined for the final four innings, surrendering only three hits and one run.

With the VCU offense stagnating, the door was left open for the UVA offense, which was held by VCU pitching until the third.

Because the game was midweek, Keyes said he was trying not to overuse his pitchers.

Starter Phillip Deane (Richmond/Varina) went only two innings and gave up one run.

The third inning however, would prove to be the game-changing inning.

After freshmand reliever Ryan Crosby (Broad Run/Notre Dame Academy) loaded the bases with no outs, freshman Steven Proscia stepped to the plate. On a 2-0 pitch, Proscia belted a fastball over the fence in left field, and the 1-0 UVA lead was suddenly a 5-0 romp.

The bats for both teams were held mostly silent until the seventh, when VCU finally broke through on a Richard Gonzalez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/PRBA) sacrifice fly.

Gonzalez had two hits on the night, and drove in the Rams’ only run.

Virginia would quell any VCU comeback attempts with strong pitching, and three more runs in the final two frames.

Despite the eight runs, VCU had strong pitching performances from Kyle Pelchy (Yorktown/Grafton), Will Hirsch (Suffolk/Nansemond River) and Josh Alford (Midlothian/Trinity Episcopal).

The Rams’ offense could only muster five hits on the night. Beyond the two by Gonzalez, Justin Wright (Yorktown/Grafton), Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) and R.J. Schenk (Yorktown/Tabb) also tallied hits for VCU.

The Rams head to Northeastern this weekend for another pivotal CAA series.

“We’ve got to play good every time out, and have our best effort. But it may be good for us to get on the road,” Keyes said.

VCU currently sits at 18-15 on the season, along with 6-6 in the conference.