Jim Swing
Sports Editor
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VCU junior Taylor Buran laid a slow-rolling bunt down the third-base line that nestled perfectly in an unreachable spot.
A three-run deficit, a furious comeback and a lulling rain delay had barreled down to the Ram outfielder’s walk-off tapper down the left side of the field. And when it landed safely, VCU’s bench stormed the wet, soggy field in jubilation as the Rams (17-12) defeated Liberty (25-7) 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, dropping the Flames for the second time in a week.
VCU struggled to capitalize in the first three innings, leaving four runners stranded. Liberty catcher Trey Wimmer – who leads the Big South in throw outs – caught Joey Cujas and Bill Cullen attempting to get in scoring position in the early going.
Then the Flames made their move.
Liberty drove in the game’s first two runs on two hits, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Flames were on a roll, and the Rams were left hanging dry. Zack Haley belted a double to deep left, scoring Dalton Sype to give Liberty a 3-0 advantage in the top of the fifth inning.
But with two outs and a runner on third, VCU senior pitcher Seth Cutler-Voltz remained calm, retiring the side and giving VCU a new lease on life.
Paul Nice and Bill Cullen lit up the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles, which were followed by a wild pitch that scored Nice from third base to release the floodgates and cut the Flames’ lead to one. Jordan Weymouth followed up with a triple to left center field that scored Cullen from third to whittle what was once a seemingly unreachable Liberty lead to one. Flames reliever Jared Lyons walked a red-hot Joey Cujas, setting up Brent Mikionis with the chance to knot the game up or even take the lead with Weymouth on third. The redshirt junior hit a deep sacrifice fly that scored Weymouth and tied the game at three runs apiece.
After allowing a single by Chris Ayers – who has become VCU’s go-to situational hitter – Lyons finally escaped the inning by retiring Taylor Buran on a line drive to the pitcher’s mound.
After recording five strikeouts and giving up three runs on seven hits in six and one-third innings, Cutler-Voltz was relieved by freshman lefty Matt Lees. Liberty threatened by loading the bases with two outs. Lees forced pinch-hitter Justin Sizemore into a groundout to break free from the inning. Senior right-hander Kyle Pelchy took over on the mound in the top of the eighth and took care of business, retiring the side.
Gushing rains flooded the Diamond in the middle of the eighth forcing a 33-minute rain delay.
When play resumed, Ayers once again delivered for VCU. The Chesterfield, Va. native ripped a single to left field. Liberty right-hander Trey Lambert then walked Vimael Machin before being relieved by Patrick Bankemper. Abrahamson then singled up the middle into center field to give the Rams a one-run lead.
Closer Blake Hauser came on for VCU and threw a pair of wild pitches that allowed Liberty to knot the game 4-4 in the top of the eighth. A catcher interference allowed Cujas on base followed by a sacrifice bunt and groundout set up Buran’s walk-off.
The Rams engage in a three-game weekend series with George Mason beginning Friday night.