VCU Rams outswing the Davidson Wildcats
VCU celebrates a homer by VCU third-year right fielder Anderson Fulk. The Rams defeated the Davidson College Wildcats in a three-game series. Courtesy photos by VCU Athletics.
Marcus Leary, Contributing Writer
The VCU Rams swept the Davidson Wildcats in a three-game series. The black and gold advance to 22-10 and extend to a five-game winning streak.
Game 1
The Rams beat the Wildcats 10-8 on Friday, April 5.
Davidson started off hot, scoring two runs in the first inning when Davidson’s fourth-year right fielder Tyler Douglas hit a single that turned into two RBIs, according to StatBroadcast.
VCU answered in the bottom of the first when VCU redshirt third-year second baseman Griffin Boone ran home after a base hit from VCU second-year center fielder Aden Hill, according to StatBroadcast.
The Rams took the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the second with a home run from VCU fourth-year shortstop William Bean and a run from VCU redshirt fourth-year catcher Nic Ericsson, according to StatBroadcast.
Davidson took the lead back in the top of the third inning with a two-RBI single from Davidson’s second-year third baseman Michael O’Shaughnessy, according to StatBroadcast.
Davidson led for two more innings, leading the Rams by as much as 8-6, according to StatBroadcast.
The Rams tied the game at eight in the bottom of the sixth with two back-to-back RBI singles from VCU redshirt third-year designated hitter Jake Thilges and Bean, according to StatBroadcast.
The score stayed tied at eight until the bottom of the ninth inning when VCU took the final lead with a two-run walk-off home run from VCU third-year right fielder Anderson Fulk, according to StatBroadcast.
Game 2
VCU beat Davidson in a late-game comeback 7-4, on Saturday, April 6, which kept hope of a sweep alive.
“We didn’t have a great offensive day,” said VCU fourth-year third baseman Brandon Eike. “That just puts confidence in us that we can beat anybody even on one of our bad days.”
Davidson started the scoring in the top of the first when Davidson’s third-year catcher, Jacob Friend, hit a line-drive double into center field, which brought Davidson’s redshirt third-year utility player Noah Jouras home.
Later in the first inning, VCU fourth-year pitcher Christian Gordan made a throwing error that allowed Douglas’s single to advance Friend to home plate.
Davidson led VCU at the end of the first inning 2-0.
The Rams broke their two-inning scoring drought and cut the lead to one with a home run into right-center field from Fulk.
Davidson extended their lead 4-1 in the fourth inning through a single hit by Davidson third-year first baseman Eli Putnam into center field bringing Davidson’s fourth-year shortstop Nick Calero and fourth-year second baseman Jake Wilhoit home.
Putnam’s hit brought Davidson their last points of the game and forced VCU to change pitchers. VCU’s Gordan ended his day with five allowed hits and four allowed runs.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Ericsson ran home to bring the Rams within two runs after Eike hit a double into right-center field.
Davidson sat comfortably with a 4-2 lead until the bottom of the eighth inning, the black and gold stormed back into the game taking advantage of a Davidson defensive collapse. The Davidson defense allowed five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning including two from walks.
In the eighth inning, Davidson third-year pitcher Issac Fix put five people on base off of walks and hit VCU graduate student left fielder Ethan Iannuzzi with a pitch.
Eike stepped up to the plate with the score tied at 4-4 and hit a three-run double that pushed VCU into a 7-4 lead, and their first lead of the game.
Iannuzzi later made the game-winning catch for the Rams on a pop-fly out.
Despite the poor offensive performance, VCU head coach Bradley LeCroy was proud of his team and ready to take the momentum into game three.
“Today for seven innings we didn’t really do too much,” LeCroy said. “The biggest thing is our guys showed some toughness and confidence. We’ll make adjustments and we’ll have a better plan tomorrow.”
Game 3
VCU beat Davidson 6-1 on Sunday, April 7 in a defensive-sided matchup to complete their three-game sweep.
With VCU’s sweep, the Rams sit atop the Atlantic 10 conference and move to 5-1 in the A-10, according to the A-10.
The score remained at 0-0 for five innings until Hill hit a single RBI that sent Boone to home plate, according to StatBroadcast.
VCU dominated the score for the next three innings, going up 6-0 headed into the top of the ninth.
The ninth inning brought Davidson’s first and only run of the evening. Putnam hit a ground out to third base which allowed Jouras to run home, according to StatBroadcast.
The Rams’ next series will be at St. Bonaventure against the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies on Friday, April 12 at 3:00 p.m, Saturday, April 13 at 12:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 14 at 12:00 p.m.
