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VCU turned things around
from a game 1 rout in the second half of opening day's doubleheader in
Greenville, NC, in a game that was so good, it would not be saved for
just one day.
VCU defeated East Carolina 4-3 in an extra eighth inning, in a game
begun on February 17th, and finished in extras on February 18th,
called the day before because of darkness.
Rams starting pitcher
Frank Cavanaugh went for a strong first 7 innings, scattering 8 hits
and 4 walks over 7 innings of work, allowing just three runs, two
earned. Jared Cobbs worked a hitless eighth inning to preserve the
save the next day.
ECU again started out
on top early in this game. Matt Freese walked as the second batter of
the first inning, and advanced to third on a throwing error on a
pickoff attempt. He scored two batters later on a single by designated
hitter Pat O'Shea. ECU would score again two innings later after a
single by Ryan Hillary, advancing on error, and a second RBI single by
O'Shea.
VCU began to fight
back. 3-4-5 hittiers Cavanaugh, Jacob Allen, and Mike McCollough all
worked the count to walk in the top of the fourth, loading the bases.
ECU stiffined up, throwing Cavnagaugh and Allen out at the plate on
infield grounders. But Jon Eaton was pegged with a pitch, forcing in
McCollough to cut the ECU lead to 2-1.
ECU again widened the
lead back to 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning, with leadoff man
Clay Smith reaching on error, scoring on Jamal Campbell's single.
All was quiet until
the top of the 6th inning, with VCU down to two innings and a 3-1
deficit. Allen led off the inning with a single, and scored two
batters later on a Juan Mojica double down the left field line. Mojica
would then score on a Tim Grandy single to tie the game at 3-3.
After a scoreless 7th
inning, the game was called for darkness.
Resumed prior to
Sunday's game three, the Ram's picked up their bats right where they
left off. Mojica led off the inning with a rip into left field for his
second double of the game. Grandy sacrificed him to third on a perfect
bunt. Things got dicey on a sharp grounder to third by Jason Thompson,
where Mojica was caught in a run-down between home and third. Mojica
was forced out of the baseline by the ECU catcher, who did not have
the ball, and was tagged out. An obstruction call was argued for, but
not granted. Thompson was smart on the bases, however, and advanced to
second while this melee was going on.
Thompson then advanced
to third on a shallow single by Mike Urbanski, and scored the
go-ahead, and ultimately game-winning run on a full count RBI single
by centerfielder Chris Pitts.
As Cavanaugh was the
last pitcher on the mound for the Rams before the go-ahead run was
scored, he was now the pitcher of record for the Rams. Jared Cobbs
came on to close out the game and earn the save, allowing a full count
walk to the RJ Johnansen, before throwing the final out via a ground
ball to shortstop Grandy. |
