RAMS RALLY TO CAPTURE 10-7 CAA WIN OVER DUKES
4-3-05
VCU 10, JMU 7
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Rookie shortstop Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, P.R./PRBA) sent pinch runner Harold Mozingo (Tappahanock, Va./Essex) across the plate with a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning and sophomore Scott Sizemore (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) added a two-run triple to give Virginia Commonwealth a 10-7 come-from-behind victory over James Madison on Sunday. The Rams (16-6, 4-2 CAA), who overcame a 7-3 seventh-inning deficit, took two from the Dukes (8-17, 1-2 CAA) in Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend at Long Field/Mauck Stadium.
The Rams started the windy Sunday afternoon scoring two runs in the first inning. Miranda, who went 3-for-6, and senior Alex Gary (Charlotte, Va./Western Carolina) were both sent home on a double by Pete Farina (West Los Angeles, Calif./University).The Dukes added two on the board in the first to tie the game.
VCU’s Bobby Holmes (Quniton, Va./Lee Davis) walked, advanced to third on a double by Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) and crossed the plate on a RBI by teammate Joe Medor (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee Davis) to take a 3-2 lead in the second.
The Dukes added five runs, while the Rams remained scoreless in the next four innings. Sizemore closed the gap in the seventh with a solo homer to left field, 7-4. In the eighth, a bases-loaded walk to Gary,allowing Barrett Ripley (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage) to cross the plate, brought the Rams to within 7-5. Evans and Sizemore scored on a two-RBI single up the middle by Farina, who went 3-for-5 and registered game-high four RBI, to tie the game. Evans finished the game going 3-for-5 at the plate.
The exciting ninth began with a single by Tim St. Clair (Woodbridge, Va./Chesapeake C.C.). Mozingo replaced St. Clair at first and with two outs, Meador singled and Miranda added a single over the shortstop’s head to send Mozingo home to take an 8-7 lead. Sizemore registered a triple, sending Meador and Miranda home, before trying for an in-the-park homer, but was thrown out at the plate.
Freshman right-hander Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) earned the win with two innings of one-hit relief. He struck out one and improved to 2-1. Junior Marcus Davis (Luray, Va./Luary) started for the Rams striking out career-high nine batters in 4.2 innings.
Sophomore Travis Risser came in relief for the Dukes, tossing 3.0 innings in the loss and dropping to 4-2 on the season. Jacob Cook started for JMU, pitching 5.2 innings, striking out six Rams and walked three. Skyler Doom led the Dukes with a career best four hits (4-for-5) and Nate Schill was 2-for-3 with two RBI.
The Rams will host Virginia Tech in a mid-week contest on Tuesday, April. 5. The game is set for 7:00 p.m. at Petersburg Sports Complex.
