April 28, 2012
NORFOLK, VA-- Senior Josh Tutwiler and freshman catcher Michael Perez each homeredand drove in five of the Monarchs six runs, but VCU rallied to defeat the Monarchs,7-6 Saturday night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex on Alumni night.
Joey Cujas' sacrifice fly plated Paul Nice from third base in the ninth inning withthe go-ahead run for the Rams. VCU's reliever Blake Hauser then set the Monarchsdown in order in the bottom of the ninth for his third win of the season.
The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the third when Taylor Perkins and Bill Cullen scored off an ODU throwing error.
ODU tied the game in the fourth on Josh Tutwiler's team best tying seventh homerunof the season with Chris Baker aboard. ODU took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inningon Michael Perez lead off homer, the first of his collegiate career.
VCU re-took the lead at 4-3 in the sixth on a two-run RBI single by Joey Cujas, the CAA's second leading hitter to score Cullen and Paul Nice.
In the bottom of the sixth ODU scored three runs on a two-run RBI single by Perez. Austin McGowan who reached on a single later scored from third on a wild pitch to give the Monarchs a 6-4 lead.
The Rams tied the game in the seventh on Nice RBI single which brought home Cullen and then a sacrifice fly RBI by Jardan Weymouth to plate Taylor Perkins.
The Monarchs loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but VCU reliever and game winner Blake Hauser pitched out of the jam.
The Monarchs led with 12 hits as Chris Baker, Josh Tutwiler and Michael Perez each had two. Baker and Tutwiler scored twice each on the night.
VCU was led by Joey Cujas with three RBI, while Paul Nice had three hits and scored twice. Taylor Perkins also had two hits and two runs scored.
VCU's five pitchers fanned 10 batters on the night, including three by Hauser. ODU starter Ben Tomchick fanned three wiht no walks and Erick Baker also fanned three.
The two teams play again Sunday at 2 p.m. as the first 200 fans will receive a free ODU Baseball mini bat.
VCU 002 002 201=7-8-0ODU 000 213 000=6-12-2
VCU Battery: Cutler-Voltz, Lees(6), Pelchy(6), Huelse(8), Hauser(8) and Perkins, Abrahamson(9)ODU Battery: B.Tomchick, E. Baker(6), Smith(9) and Perez
WP: Hauser(3-1), LP: E. Baker(2-3)
HR: ODU-Tutwiler(7), Perez(1)