May 9, 2009
RICHMOND, VA--The Virginia Commonwealth Rams (20-21/8-12) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat ODU, 7-6 Saturday afternoon. ODU is 19-23 overall and 11-9 in the CAA.
ODU is now in a four-way tie for second place in the Colonial Athletic Association.The Monarchs are 11-9 as is James Madison, Towson and Georgia State.
In the bottom of the eighth, and ODU leading, 6-5, Brent Mikionis led off with his first homer of the year. Pinch hitter Josh Alford followed with a single off reliever Chris Boggs and scored on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Perkins for the game winner.
Max Most (Port Washington, NY. ) started the game off for ODU with a solo homerun, then Gerard Hall (Washington, DC.) scored on a double play to give ODU a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
In the third inning Most and Hall reached on back-to-back singles. Most scored onJake McAloose's (Virginia Beach, Va. ) groundout, and Hall came home on a Brett Harris (Chesapeake, Va. ) single.
In the fifth Hall singled home Most, then later scored on a VCU throwing error. TheRams committed six on the day. ODU led, 6-1 going into the bottom of the sixth.
The Rams got on the board in the fourth when Joe Van Meter plated Doug Ottoon a groundout.
In the bottom of the sixth the Rams rallied with four runs with the help of two ODU errors and RBI hits from Otto, Josh Alford and Carlos Rodriguez.
The Monarchs loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with no outs, but Gerard Hall wasforced out at the plate on a groundout by Harris, VCU reliever Aaron Morgan then retired the next to batters to end the game.
Max Most and Gerard Hall led ODU with three hits and three runs scored each today.Jake McAloose and Brett Harris both had two hits. VCU was led by Doug Otto withThree hits, while Josh Alford and Andrew Dimino both had two hits each.
The third and final game of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Diamond.
ODU 202 020 000- 6-11-2VCU 000 104 02x -7-9-6
ODU Battery: Brady Burchill, Chris Boggs(8), Kyle Hald (8) and Edgar HernandezVCU Battery: Robbie Andrews, Darryl Stringfield (4) , Cutler-Woltz(5),8 Aaron Morgan, and Carlos Rodgriguez
WP:Morgan (4-2)LP: Boggs (5-1)
HR:ODU- Most (2); VCU - Mikionis (1)