February 20, 2010

VCU ERASES THREE-RUN DEFICIT TO DEFEAT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN, 9-5
Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Virginia Commonwealth University pounded out 17 hits and erased a 3-run deficit to defeat Charleston Southern, 9-5, in the second game of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at CSU Ballpark.

VCU wins its second straight against Charleston Southern and improves to 2-0 on the year, while the Bucs fall to 0-2.

For the second day in a row the Rams went ahead early and got on the board with a run in the first inning.  Newcomer Greg Fujji reached on an error to start the game and Richard Gonzalez followed with a walk, before a groundout by Doug Otto put runners on second and third with one out.  Joe Van Meter came up with his first hit of the season a batter later, which plated Fujji and the Rams went on top 1-0.

VCU had an opportunity to add to its lead but left the bases loaded following an inning-ending double play by left fielder Paul Nice.

Charleston Southern came out swinging in the bottom of the second.  Nick Chinners led off the inning with a double down the left field line and Tyler Thornburg put the Bucs on top 2-1 with a two-run homer to left field.  Tom Burkett followed with a single to left, stole second and scored off a Brandon McKinney RBI-double.

VCU starter Blake Hauser, who was making his collegiate debut, ran into trouble early as he then walked Drew Woodall with no outs, threw a wild pitch and allowed McKinney to score on a balk to put Charleston Southern ahead 4-1.  However, Hauser settled down and posted back-to-back strikeouts to halt the Bucs’ rally.

The Rams recovered and scored two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game at 4-4.

Gonzalez got things going for VCU in the fifth as he led off the inning with a single down the left field line and stole second base.  Otto reached on an error and swiped second as well to give the Rams a pair of runners in scoring position.  Gonzalez came home on a John Lenherr groundout and Nice laced a two-out RBI-single to left field to pull the Rams within 4-3.

In the sixth, Fujji hit a two-out single to right center field and stole second.  Gonzalez posted his second hit of the day and the Rams had two runners in scoring position for the second-straight inning.  Otto drew a walk to load the bases and Fujji scored on a passed ball to even the score at 4-4.

Charleston Southern went back on top 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth as pinch hitter Walt Quattlebaum doubled to right center with one out and later scored on a double by Brantley Meier.

VCU mounted a game-winning rally with three runs in the top of the eighth.  Again, the Rams first two batters reached as Fujji led off with a double to left field.  Gonzalez sent an RBI-single up the middle and knotted the score at 5-5.  Gonzalez represented the go-ahead run as he crossed the plate following a Joe Van Meter single.  Van Meter later gave the Rams an insurance run when he scored on Nice’s single down the right field line.

The Black & Gold added two more runs in the top of the ninth.  M.L. Morgan struck out to start the inning but reached on a passed ball.  Morgan advanced to second and third on a pair of wild pitches and came home on a single by Taylor Perkins.  Gonzalez later doubled and scored Perkins to give the Rams a 9-5 advantage.

Aaron Morgan picked up the win for VCU as he logged 3.0 innings in relief of Hauser, while Robbie Andrews secured his second save in a row as he tossed the final two innings, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts.

Gonzalez and Nice each had four hits for the Rams, while Fujji went 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles and three runs.

VCU concludes its series with Charleston Southern on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.