RAMS FALL TO SEAHAWKS IN GAME TWO, 3-0
Bolden extends hitting streak to 10 straight games
Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball ran into junior right-hander Jeff Hatcher from UNC Wilmington as the Rams fell to the Seahawks, 3-0 in Colonial Athletic Association action on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field. The Rams fall to 8-6 overall and 1-1 in the CAA, while the Seahawks improve to 8-10 and 1-1 in the conference action.

The Seahawks struck first in the game as Matt Holt started the bottom of the first inning with a double and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Steve Halford. Jonathan Batts plated the second UNC Wilmington run as he doubled to score Daniel Hargrave, who reached on a single earlier in the frame.

The contest turned into a pitcher’s duel quickly as UNC Wilmington starter Jeff Hatcher did not allow a Rams’ hit until the top of the fifth inning, when sophomore Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single laced into right field. Hatcher faced the minimum threw seven innings as he induced one double play and the Rams’ had one runner caught stealing.

VCU starter Cody Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) held strong threw four innings, allowing two runs and pitching out of several jams to keep the Black and Gold within striking distance. Senior Bill Wieland (Marlton, N.J./Okaloosa Walton CC) entered in the fifth and threw two innings, allowing one run and two hits in that span.

Bolden started a Black and Gold threat in the top half of the eighth inning as he stroked another single through the right side and advanced to second on a single by senior Barrett Ripley (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage). Hatcher was able to pitch out of the jam as he collected back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the eighth inning unscathed.

Senior Mick Mattaliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X) came out of the bullpen strong as he did not allow a Seahawk hitter to reach base in his two innings of work.

Hatcher (2-1) picked up the complete game victory, allowing just three hits and one walk in nine innings of work, while striking out eight Rams’ hitters. Eppley (1-2) takes the loss for the Black and Gold as he threw four innings allowing two runs and five hits.

Bolden was the story offensively once again for the Rams as the standout sophomore collected two more hits to extend his hitting streak to 10-straight games and has now hit safely in 25 of his last 26 contests, dating back to late in the season last year.

The Rams and Seahawks complete their three-game set on Sunday afternoon with a 2 p.m. contest at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.

RAMS’ START CAA WITH BANG, 13-3 OVER UNC WILMINGTON
Walker, offense lead pounding off defending CAA Champion
Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Revenge can taste so sweet and the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team unleashed 17 hits to capture that revenge as they topped 2006 CAA Champion UNC Wilmington 13-3 on Friday evening. The game was the opening contest of the CAA portion of both team’s 2007 schedule.

The Rams improve to 8-5 overall and 1-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association, while the Seahawks fall to 7-10 and 0-1 in the conference.

The Black and Gold struck early as four straight Rams reached base to start the game with freshman Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) reaching on a free pass and junior Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) laced a single into left field to plate runners at first and second for junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) who delivered an RBI single up the middle to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.

Evans would score two batters later on a groundout by sophomore Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) to give the Black and Gold a 2-0 advantage before UNC Wilmington came to bat.

After the Seahawks added a run in the home half of the second, the Rams bounced back with four runs on the top of the third inning keyed by a three-run bomb over the right field fence by senior Barrett Ripley (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage). Jackson also added an RBI single, which plated Miranda in the frame to give the Black and Gold a 6-1 lead after two and a half innings.

The Rams tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth as freshman Richard Gonzalez (Caugus, Puerto Rico/PRBA) ripped a bases-loaded single to score both Ripley and Jackson to push the VCU advantage to 8-1 after five complete innings.

Sophomore sensation Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) touched up Seahawk reliever Bryan Booth for a long homerun to right field to extend the Black and Gold lead to 10-1 in the top of the sixth inning.

Senior Trai Harris added a two-run single in the top of the eighth and sophomore Carlos Rodriguez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/PRBA) followed with an RBI double off the left field fence to extend the VCU lead to 13-1 after eight complete innings.

Lost in all the Rams’ offense was another gem from junior Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) as the right-hander threw seven strong innings, allowing just five hits and walking just one over that span. The junior allowed just one earned run and struck out two Seahawk hitters.

Bolden led the offense once again for the Rams as the sophomore went 3-for-4, scoring three runs and launching his first homerun of 2007. Jackson, Miranda and Gonzalez all collected three hits in the contest, while Evans also had a multi-hit performance with two singles.

The Rams and Seahawks face off again tomorrow afternoon at Brooks Field in a 4 p.m. contest.

RAMS, SEAHAWKS FACE OFF IN 2006 CAA CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH
Both teams open CAA portion of schedule this weekend
VCU Game Notes

RICHMOND, Va. - The last time the two teams met each was on the same field that the pair will do battle on this weekend. The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team will open up its 2007 Colonial Athletic Association portion of their schedule this weekend with a three-game set in Wilmington, N.C.

The Rams and Seahawks battled on the same field in last year's CAA Championship game in an unforgettable game that UNC Wilmington pulled out a victory with a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. The two teams are both filled with high expectations this season as they were picked first and second in the 2007 CAA preseason coache's poll, with the Rams being the favorite.

First pitch is set for Friday at 7 p.m. at Brooks Field with junior Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) (pictured) on the bump for the Rams, while sophomore right-hander Bradley Holt takes the mound for the Seahawks.


LEONARD, EARLY OFFENSE LEAD RAMS PAST HOKIES, 9-4
Senior allows just two base runners in six innings
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Seven runs in the first two innings and the right arm of senior John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) guided the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team to a 9-4 defeat of visiting Virginia Tech on Tuesday afternoon. The Rams improve to 7-5 overall, while the Hokies drop to 7-5 in 2007.

The Black and Gold continued their hot-hitting as they jumped on Virginia Tech starter Casey Herald right out of the gates as Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) and Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) both laced singles to start the bottom of the first. Sophomore Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) extended his hitting streak to eight games with an RBI single up the middle to give the Rams a 1-0 advantage.

After Bolden and Evans stole second and third respectively, an errant pickoff throw allowed Evans to score and one batter later, freshman Nathan Furry (Salem, Va./Salem) brought home Bolden to give VCU a 3-0 after the home half of the first inning.

Junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) launched a bases-loaded double to the centerfield fence to score two Rams in the bottom of the second inning and a batter later Bolden laced a single through left side to score two more runs to push the Black and Gold advantage to 7-0 after two complete innings.

Leonard took over as he threw six shutout innings, allowing one hit in the first and another in the sixth inning and that was it for the Hokies offense. The senior right-hander allowed just two base runners in six innings and struck out five Virginia Tech hitters.

Evans knocked in another run in the home half of the sixth with an RBI single and sophomore Carlos Rodriguez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/PRBA) added an RBI single of his own in the bottom of the seventh to push the VCU lead to 9-0 after seven innings.

Virginia Tech would string together three hits and a walk in the ninth to end the shutout bid as four Hokies crossed the plate, but junior Luke Pisker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) was able to close out the game at 9-4.

Bolden and Evans had multi-hit games for the Black and Gold with Evans going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Bolden was 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs.

Leonard picked up the win to improve to 2-0 on the season with his six shutout innings. Senior Louis Abbruzze (Anahiem, Calif./Canyon) continues his impressive start to 2007 as he threw a perfect seventh inning for the Rams.

The Rams take to the road this weekend to open up their CAA schedule as they travel to UNC Wilmington for a three-game set, starting with a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday evening.


OFFENSE EXPLODES AS RAMS POUND RADFORD, 18-7
11 different Rams collect hits in victory
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team exploded for 23 hits and 18 runs in a pounding of the Radford University Highlanders on Sunday afternoon, 18-7. The Rams improve to 6-5 overall, while Radford falls to 3-7 in 2007.

For the second straight game, Radford put the pressure on the Black and Gold early as Corey Greene led off the game with a single to right field and came out on a two-out double to deep left-center to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead after the first half-inning.

With two outs in the home half of the second, senior Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside) laced a single through the left side to start a Rams’ rally. Sophomore catcher Carlos Rodriguez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/PRBA) followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and third for the Black and Gold. Freshman standout Richard Gonzalez (Caugus, Puerto Rico/PRBA) knocked in the Rams’ first run of the day with a scorched single down the right field line to plate Harris. After the ball was bobbled in right field, Rodriguez scored to give VCU a 2-1 lead.

Freshman Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) kept the Black and Gold rally going with a single into centerfield to score Gonzalez. Leskiw was driven in one batter later by junior Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel), who launched a double off the left field wall. Junior Sergio Miranda plated the Rams’ final run of the inning with a single into right-centerfield to give the Black and Gold a 5-1 lead after two frames.

Greene and Raphael Turner would each launch solo homeruns in the top of the third to cut the Rams’ lead to two at 5-3.

The Black and Gold would capatilize on another Radford miscue in the home half of the third inning, as Gonzalez hit a sharp ground ball that the Highlanders’ second basemen could not handle, which allowed sophomore Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) to score. One batter later, Leskiw would strike again as the freshman roped a single into right field to plate senior John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) and give VCU a 7-3 lead after three complete innings.

Sophomore sensation Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) started the Rams’ scoring in the fourth with a single through the left side and Jackson followed by launching a triple off the right field wall to drive in Bolden. Jackson would score on the play when the Highlanders’ relay throw went into the VCU dugout. Leonard
followed Jackson’s triple with a bomb over the left field wall for his first collegiate homerun, giving the Black and Gold a 10-3 lead heading into the top of the fifth inning.

After Evans plated Gonzalez with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of fifth inning, the Rams added three more runs in the home half of the sixth on an RBI single by Rodriguez and Evans struck again with a two-RBI double to deep left field to give the Rams a 14-3 after six complete innings.

After the Highlanders score four runs, three of which were unearned, in the top of the seventh, the Rams stormed back with two in the seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by a solo homerun by two-run bomb off the bat of sophomore Brad Bonney (Norfolk, Va./Maury) in the home half of the seventh.

Senior Mick Mattaliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X) and junior Luke Pisker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) both threw scoreless innings to close out the Black and Gold victory.

10 different Rams had multi-hit games for the Black and Gold led by Jackson who went 3-for-6 with four runs scored and an RBI. Bonney went 2-for-2 in a reserved role, scoring a run and driving in four runs. Evans went 2-for-4 with a run scored and four runs driven in.

The Rams are back in action on Tuesday afternoon as they take on in-state rival Virginia Tech in a 4 p.m. contest.

RAMS FALL TO HIGHLANDERS, 11-7
Jackson goes 3-for-4, drives in three
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Seven runs in the first two innings was not enough for the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team on Saturday afternoon as the Rams fell to visiting Radford University, 11-7 at the Diamond. The Black and Gold fall to 5-5 overall, while the Highlanders improve to 3-6 on the season.

The scoring was early and often as the teams combined for 16 runs in the first three complete innings of the contest, however the pitching locked in after that as only two runs were scored over the final six innings.

Radford struck first as the Tyren Rivers led off the game with a double and scored two batters later on an RBI groundout from Nate Toth to plate the Highlanders to a 1-0 after just one-half inning.

The Rams wasted little time in answering as junior Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) was hit by a pitch and scored on the very next pitch, when sophomore Justin Wright (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) laced a double over the right fielder’s head. Sophomore Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) would give the Black and Gold a 2-1 lead with an RBI single up the middle.

After Radford regained the lead, 3-2, with two runs in the top of the second inning, VCU would explode for five runs of their own in the home half of the second. The big blows came off the bat off Jackson and fellow classmate Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) as each drove in two runs in the frame to give the Rams a 7-3 advantage after two complete innings.

Five singles and a double keyed a six-run third inning for Radford as the Highlanders regained the lead at 9-7 after three complete innings.

The pitching for both sides would lock into a pitcher’s duel the rest of the way as each side was only able to scratch out three hits apiece over the final six innings, with the Highlanders scoring a run in the top of the fourth and the top of the eighth innings.

The Rams would start a rally in the ninth as freshman Richard Gonzalez (Caugus, Puerto Rico/PRBA) laced a single through the left side and Evans followed with a walk, but a fielder’s choice and a double-play got Radford out of the innings unscathed.

Jackson led the Black and Gold offensively as the sophomore went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Gonzalez went 2-for-4 in the contest, while driving in a run and scoring a run.

Freshman Howard Deemer takes the loss for the Rams as he allowed four earned runs and six hits in 0.2 innings of work.

The Rams are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they host Radford in the finale of their three game series at 1 p.m.

WALKER’S GEM LEADS RAMS PAST RADFORD, 4-2
Junior hurls seven innings, strikes out career-high seven
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The right arm of junior Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) led the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball to a 4-2 defeat of visiting Radford University on Friday afternoon at the Diamond. The Rams improve to 5-4 on the season, while the Highlanders fall to 2-6 on the 2007 campaign.

Walker was stellar for the Black and Gold, throwing seven strong innings allowing just three hits and one earned run, while striking out a career-high seven Radford hitters as he improved to 1-1 on the year.

The Black and Gold got on the board in the bottom of the third as junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) reached on a single and later moved to third after the Radford catcher overthrew the bag on Miranda’s swipe of second base. Two batters, later Miranda would score on an RBI groundout by sophomore Chris Jackson (Midlothian,Va./Manchester) to give the Rams a 1-0 advantage.

Walker would lock in as the right-hander threw six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits over those first six innings. The Rams would put two more on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the sixth inning as Jackson plated fellow sophomore Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) with an RBI triple to the right-field wall. Jackson would score three batters later on a sacrifice fly by senior Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside) to give VCU a 3-0 lead after six complete.

Radford would finally get to Walker as Jonathan Spears drove home Nick Minter with an RBI double into the left-center gap to cut the Rams’ lead to 3-1.

After Bolden led off the home half of eighth with a double off the left field fence, Jackson laced a single through the middle to push the Black and Gold advantage back to three at 4-1.

Senior John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) came in to close out the final two innings for the Rams, allowing three hits and one unearned run to pick up his first save of the 2007 season.

Bolden and Jackson each collected two hits apiece for the Rams with Bolden scoring two and Jackson picking up three RBIs in the contest.

The Rams are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they host Radford in the second game of their three-game set at 1 p.m.

BOLDEN’S HOT STICK NOT ENOUGH AS RAMS FALL TO LIBERTY, 8-2
Sophomore racks up two more hits, pushes average to .400
2-27-07
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The hot stick of sophomore Jared Bolden was not enough for the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team on Tuesday afternoon as the Rams fell to the visiting Flames of Liberty University, 8-2. The Rams fall to 4-4 overall, while the Flames improve to 7-3 in 2007.

Liberty struck early as Phil John reached on a two-base error and scored a batter later as Garrett Young ripped a double into the left-field gap to give the Flames a 1-0 advantage after the top half of the first inning.

Sophomore Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) tied the game in the home half of the second inning as he launched his first homerun of the season over the left field fence to even at 1-1.

The duo of John and Young led the Flames back into the lead in the top of the third inning as John reached on a walk and stole second a pitch later. Young would plate John with his second double of the game and later scored on a Rams’ error to give Liberty a 3-1 lead. Aaron Phillips’ ripped a two-run triple keyed a five-run outburst for the Flames as Liberty pushed their lead to 8-1 after the top half of the sixth inning.

The Rams’ would push across a run in the bottom of the sixth inning as junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) reached on a two-base error and scored two batters later as sophomore Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) laid down a beautiful bunt for a base hit to cut the lead to 8-2 after six complete innings.

Senior Luis Abruzze (Anahiem, Calif./Canyon) came into stifle the Flames’ offense as he threw 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one to keep the score at 8-2.

However, the Rams put runners on in both the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to push across any more runs.

Bolden and Jackson paced the Black and Gold offensively as the sophomore duo each went 2-for-4, with Jackson delivering his first homerun of 2007. Bolden has now hit safely in seven of the Rams eight contests and is 9-for-17 in the previous four games.

The Rams are back in action on Friday afternoon as they host Radford University in a 4 p.m. contest.

RAMS SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER FROM FORDHAM, 7-6 AND 4-3
Black and Gold use late-game heroics to capture wins
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team used some late-game heroics and capitalized on some Fordham miscues to sweep a doubleheader from the visiting Rams of Fordham University, 7-6 in game one and 4-3 in game two, on Saturday afternoon at the Diamond.

The doubleheader sweep improves the Black and Gold’s mark to 4-3 on the 2007 season, while Fordham falls to 0-3 on the campaign.

In game one, Fordham put the pressure on VCU early as they racked up two doubles and two singles in the first inning, staking the visiting Rams to a 3-0 lead after just half an inning.

The Black and Gold answered right back with four runs of its own with the big blow coming off the bat of sophomore Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) as he roped a two-run single to right-field and the Rams plated two other runs in the first as they took the lead 4-3 after one complete inning.

VCU would keep the scoring going in the bottom of the second as Bolden struck again as he plated freshman Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) and junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) with a two-RBI triple to stake the Black and Gold to a 6-3 lead after the second.

Fordham starter Cory Riordan would settle into a groove as he held VCU’s offense at-bay and gave the visiting Rams a chance to score a run in the fourth and another in the seventh to cut the lead to 6-5 entering the final frame.

With one out in the top of the ninth, Fordham would rally with Rich Goulian being hit by a pitch and being singled in two batters later by Rob DiNardo to tie the game at 6-6.

The Rams would rally with two outs in their half of the ninth as Bolden reached on a bunt single and advanced to second after sophomore Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for sophomore Justin Wright (Yorktown, Pa./Grafton). Wright hit a laser off the leg of Fordham pitcher Andrew Davis and the ball bounced into right-field allowing Bolden to come around with the winning run.

In game two, senior Barrett Ripley (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage) got VCU on the board in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to plate Wright and two batters later, freshman M.L. Morgan (Petersburg, Va./Dinwiddie) reached on an RBI bunt single that plated senior Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside) to give the Black and Gold a 2-0 lead after two complete innings.

Junior right-hander Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) settled in as he kept Fordham without a hit for the first four innings, before John Mollicone connected on a solo homerun to cut the VCU lead to 2-1.

Miranda would answer right back for the Rams as he drove in Morgan in the bottom half of the fourth to push the Black and Gold lead back to two at 3-1.

Fordham was able to plate two more runs in the top of the sixth off a single from DiNardo to tie the game at 3-3, and the game would stay that way heading into the home half of the ninth inning.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Harris roped a single into right field to start the VCU rally. Fordham hurler James Sammut tried to pick off Harris, but the throw would get away and Harris would take off for third base, but Fordham second basemen Eric Reese threw a laser across the field, but the throw was wide allowing Harris to scurry home with the eventually winning-run and give the Black and Gold a weekend sweep.

Bolden led the Rams offensively as he went 5-for-9 in the double-dip with a triple and four RBIs. The standout sophomore also stole three bases on the day. A total of seven other Rams had two hits on the day, including a strong day from freshmen M.L. Morgan and Matt Leskiw. Morgan also stole three bases as he received the starting nod in the nightcap.

Freshman Robbie Andrews (Covington, Va./Alleghany) picked up the win in game two as he threw a scoreless eighth inning and junior Luke Pisker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) grabbed the win in game one as both hurlers made appearances in both contests. Andrews and Pisker combined for five innings of relief, allowing just three hits and one earned run on the day.

The Rams are back in action on Tuesday afternoon as they host Liberty University in a 4 p.m. contest.

LEONARD LEADS RAMS’ SHUTOUT OF FORDHAM, 1-0
Senior holds Fordham to one hit over six innings
2-23-07
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Senior right-hander John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) led a trio of VCU pitchers in a combined shutout of the visiting Fordham University Rams, 1-0 on Friday afternoon at the Diamond. The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team improves to 2-3 overall, while the Rams of Fordham fall to 0-1 in 2007.

Leonard combined with freshman Phillip Deane (Richmond, Va./Varina) and senior Mick Mattaliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X) for the complete game shutout to lead the Black and Gold. Leonard threw six strong innings allowing just one hit and striking out three before giving way to Deane in the seventh, who pitched a scoreless inning. Mattaliano closed it out by throwing the final two innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Fordham wasted little time putting pressure on Leonard and the Rams as they loaded the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch, before Leonard induced a 6-4-3 double play thanks to the nifty defensive work of shortstop Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) and second basemen Richard Gonzalez (Caugus, Puerto Rico).

Leonard and Fordham hurler Javier Martinez would settle into a pitcher’s duel as Martinez shut down the Black and Gold in order through the first three innings.

Gonzalez would get VCU rolling in the fourth inning as he laced a one-out single up the middle and was brought home two batters later as sophomore Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) launched a triple into the right-field gap to give the Black and Gold a 1-0 advantage.

Martinez combined with Peter Kennelly to stifle the Rams’ offense, but the VCU hurlers would battle through the four innings as they left Fordham runners stranded in each of the final four frames.

Bolden’s RBI triple would prove to be enough as he plated Gonzalez with the game’s lone run, and the sophomore launched a double later in the game as he collected two of VCU’s three hits in the contest.

Bobby DiNardo had two hits for Fordham, while Michael Taddei and Ryan McCrann each recorded a hit a piece in the game.

Leonard improves to 1-0 on the campaign, while Martinez takes the tough luck loss to fall to 0-1 in Fordham’s first game of the season. Leonard now has thrown 14.0 innings this season, allowing just three earned runs and striking out 13. Martinez threw six innings allowing three hits and striking out four.

The Rams and Fordham are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they will battle in a double-header at the Diamond. First-pitch of game one is set for 12 p.m. 


GONZALEZ NAMED CAA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Freshman second basemen hits .467 against 18th-ranked San Diego
2-20-07

RICHMOND, Va. – If people usually go by first impressions, freshman Richard Gonzalez (Caugus, Puerto Rico/PRBA) is in pretty good shape for the rest of his career at VCU. The second basemen for the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team was named Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week, announced by the conference office this evening.

Gonzalez joined junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) to form a dynamic duo up the middle for the Black and Gold as the pair combined for seven hits a piece over the course of the Rams’ four-game series against the 18th-ranked University of San Diego this past week.

In his first four games in the Black and Gold, Gonzalez had three multi-hit games in a four-game series against the Toreros, finishing 7-for-15 for a batting average of .467. He drove in four runs while scoring three more, and drawing one base on balls.

Gonzalez came up with a huge two-run single in the top of the seventh in his first collegiate game to put the Rams ahead 4-2 against the highly touted Brian Matusz of San Diego (7th-ranked prospect in 2008). Gonzalez also knocked in an RBI in the fifth inning of the Rams’ lone victory and his RBI tied the game, which VCU eventually won in extra innings.

The Rams are back in action as they host Fordham University in the home opening series this weekend at the Diamond. The opening game is set for Friday, February 23, first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.


RAMS FALL TO SAN DIEGO IN SERIES FINALE, 8-2
Gonzalez strokes two hits again for Black and Gold
Box score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team fell in the finale of its four-game series against the 18 th-ranked University of San Diego on Sunday afternoon, 7-2. The Toreros used four first runs, three of which were unearned, to get past the Black and Gold.

The Rams fall to 1-3 on the 2007 season, while San Diego improves to 9-4 overall on the campaign.

The Toreros struck early as Justin Snyder, who entered the game seven for his last seven, started the bottom half of the first inning with a double to left centerfield and scored one batter later on a Rams’ error. Logan Gelbrich, Josh Romanski and Daniel Magness all delivered RBI hits to stake San Diego to an early 4-0 lead after the first complete inning.

VCU would string a rally together in the top half of the third inning as freshman Nathan Furry (Salem, Va./Salem) drew a two-out walk and advanced to third on a single by junior Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel). Freshman Richard Gonzalez (Caugus, Puerto Rico/PRBA) continued his hot start as he ripped a run-scoring single into left to cut the lead to 4-1. Junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) brought the Rams within two as he followed Gonzalez by lacing a single into right field to score Evans from second.

After the Toreros added a run in the third, junior starter Cody Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) settled into a groove as he shut down San Diego 1-2-3 in both the fourth and fifth innings to keep the Rams in the game at 5-2 after five complete innings.

Senior Barrett Ripley (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage) led a rally for the Black and Gold as he stroked a single into centerfield and advanced to third two batters later when Gonzalez delivered his second single of the game. However, VCU was unable to push across a run as San Diego reliever A.J. Griffin entered the game and stifled the Rams rally.

Griffin would finish out the contest for the Toreros striking out five over the final two innings to stifle the Rams offense.

Gonzalez lead the way yet again for the Black and Gold as he had his third multi-hit game of the series. Miranda and Jackson each collected a hit apiece in the contest. The infield trio along with Evans each recorded at least one hit in each game for the Rams.

Eppley took the loss for VCU as the right-hander went six innings allowing only two earned runs, while striking out four and walking just two. Ricardo Pecina picked up the win for the Toreros to improve to 2-1 in 2007.

The Rams are back in action next weekend as they host Fordham University in a three-game series, starting with a 4 p.m. contest on Friday, February 23 at the Diamond.


RAMS RALLY LATE, BUT FALL TO SAN DIEGO, 20-13
Bonney’s three-run bomb highlights seven-run ninth
2-17-07
Box score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team rallied to plate 10 runs in the final two innings on Saturday afternoon, but it was not enough as the Rams fell to the University of San Diego, 20-13. The Black and Gold fall to 1-2 overall, while the Toreros improve to 8-4 on the campaign.

Freshman sensation Richard Gonzalez (Caugas, Puerto Rico/PRBA) continued his impressive debut season as he ripped a single in the top half of the first inning and scored two batters late on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) to give VCU a 1-0 advantage.

The Toreros would answer quickly with two runs in the bottom half of the first, however, junior Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) delivered a clutch two-run single into left field to plate seniors Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside) and Barrett Ripley (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage) to regain the lead for the Black and Gold at 3-2.

After tying the game at 3-3 with a RBI single from Sean Nicol, San Diego would explode for 17 runs over the next four innings to give the Toreros a 20-3 lead heading into the final two innings.

Jackson and freshman Sean Holmes (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) would key a Rams rally in the eighth as Jackson roped a double into left field to plate a run and Holmes would follow by lacing a single into right centerfield to score two more runs for the Black and Gold and cut the Torero lead to 20-6.

After freshman Shaun McEnhimer pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth for VCU, the Rams would string together a seven-run rally started by freshman Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) who ripped a single through the right side and scored two batters later on a triple by sophomore Justin Wright (Yorktown, Va./Grafton). Junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) followed with an RBI single of his own and sophomore Jared Bolden roped a run-scoring double to cut the San Diego lead to 20-9.

After Bolden scored on a Torero error, sophomore Brad Bonney (Norfolk, Va./Maury) delivered the biggest blow of the inning as he launched a three-run home run over the right field fence to cut the deficit to 20-13. The Rams were unable to put any more runs on the board in the inning as San Diego closed out the contest.

Miranda led the 16-hit Rams attack as the shortstop collected three hits in the game, while scoring a run and driving in a run for the Black and Gold. Jackson and Holmes also had multi-hit games for VCU as each of them collected two hits apiece. A total of 12 Rams recorded hits in the contest.

Justin Snyder led the Torero attack with five hits and Logan Gelbrich, Josh Romanski and Daniel Magness recorded at least three hits apiece in the contest.

Junior Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) absorbed the loss as the right-hander went 2.2 innings giving up nine hits and seven runs in the contest. Matt Couch picked up the win for San Diego, going seven innings and striking out nine.

The Rams and Toreros finish up the four-game series on Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. PCT (4 p.m. EST) contest.


RAMS TOP 18 TH- RANKED TOREROS IN EXTRA INNINGS, 6-4
Leonard strikes out 10 in eight innings in season
2-16-07
Box score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – For not being able to be on the field more than a week, the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball has sure seen its share of time on the field through its first two games of the season. The Rams topped the 18 th-ranked University of San Diego in the second game of a four-game series, 6-4, in 10 innings. The two teams went to extra frames for the second consecutive game.

The Rams improve to 1-1 for the season, while San Diego falls to 7-4 overall in 2006.

Freshman Richard Gonzalez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/PRBA) continued his impressive debut in the Black and Gold as he roped a single in the top of the first and two batters later scored on an RBI single from sophomore Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) to give VCU an early 1-0 advantage.

USD would respond in the bottom half of the second with a double from Daniel Magness and one batter later a RBI single from Mike Metzger to even the game at 1-1 after two full innings.

The Rams put together a threat in the top half of the fourth as Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) walked to lead off the inning and Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside) followed with being a hit by a pitch. Sophomore Carlos Rodriguez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/PRBA) laid a beautiful bunt down that the Toreros botched their bunt coverage enabling Rodriguez to reach with a single and load the bases with no outs. After the Toreros forced a double play and Rodriguez was called for obstruction at second base, placing Bolden and Harris back on third and second with two outs. A balk was called on next pitch, allowing Bolden to score and give the Rams a 2-1 lead after three and a half innings.

Junior Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) started the top of the fifth off with a triple laced into the right-centerfield gap and one batter later, Gonzalez struck again as he delivered an infield RBI single to push the Black and Gold lead to 3-1 heading bottom half of the fifth.

Metzger started a Torero rally in the bottom half of the fifth with a bloop single into right field and Sean Nicol followed with a base on balls. The next Torero hitter, Kevin Hansen, plated both runners with a two-RBI single to right field to even the game at 3-3 after five complete innings.

Leonard took over for the next three innings as he recorded five strikeouts over the next three innings to take the game to extra innings for the second consecutive contest.

The Rams bats exploded in the top half of the tenth as Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) started the rally with a single through the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jackson stroked the next pitch into left field to plate Miranda and give the Black and Gold a 4-3 advantage. Bolden reached on a catcher’s interference and Harris followed with a two-RBI single to left field to push the VCU lead to 6-3 entering the home half of the 10th.

The Toreros would push one across in the 10 th as Justin Snyder stroked a single into centerfield and later scored on a Josh Romanski RBI single. Junior Luke Pisker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) came in to get the final three outs and pick up the save for the Rams.

Leonard (1-0) was the winning pitcher as he threw eight strong innings, allowing just three runs and striking out 10 Toreros. A.J. Griffin absorbed the loss allowing two runs in the 10 th, while not recording an out.

Gonzalez recorded two hits for the second straight game, while scoring a run and driving in a run for the Black and Gold. Miranda also registered two hits, as well as Jackson, who knocked in two runs for the Rams.

The Rams are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they take on the Toreros in game three of their four-game series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. PCT (4 p.m. EST) at Cunningham Stadium.


RAMS DROP CONTINUATION GAME TO SAN DIEGO, 5-4, IN 11 INNINGS
Gonzalez leads Black and Gold with two RBIs in debut
2-16-07
Box score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team battled two straight days against the University of San Diego, but the Rams fell 5-4 in 11 innings in a game that had to be continued this afternoon due to darkness late on Thursday.

The Rams fall to 0-1 on the season, while the 18 th-ranked Toreros improve to 7-3 so far in 2007.

After the Black and Gold went down 1-2-3 in their half of the eleventh, the Toreros put the pressure on the Rams quickly as Justin Snyder reached on a catcher’s interference and Jordan Abruzzo followed with a single up the middle to place runners on first and second for San Diego and no outs. Shane Buschini ended the game in the next at-bat as he knocked a double into the right-centerfield gap to plate Snyder and capture the 5-4 San Diego victory.

On Thursday afternoon, the Toreros struck first Logan Gelbrich and Daniel Magness both reached with singles in the bottom of the second and with two outs Sean Nicol laced a double into the left field gap to plate Gelbrich, but John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) connected with Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) who threw a laser to nail Magness at the plate to end the inning with San Diego up 1-0 after two full frames.

The Black and Gold answered quickly as freshman Richard Gonzalez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/PRBA) got the Rams started in the top half of the third with a single to right field and junior Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) plated him two pitches later as he roped a double down the left field line to even the score at 1-1. After a San Diego error moved Evans to third, Miranda gave VCU its first lead of the game at 2-1 as he plated Evans with a single of his own.

The Toreros evened the game up at 2-2 in the fourth inning as four straight San Diego runners reached base with Kevin Hansen delivering the scoring as he plated James Meador with a single.

Gonzalez struck again for the Rams in the top half of the seventh with two outs as he roped a single through the left side to plate Leonard and sophomore Carlos Rodriguez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/PRBA). Leonard reached on a one-out single and Rodriguez followed with a double to start the Black and Gold threat.

San Diego would quickly respond with a Jordan Abruzzo single and Shane Buschini reached on a catcher’s interference call. James Meador scored Abruzzo on a RBI-single and Daniel Magness followed with a squeeze play to plate Buschini and tie the score at 4-4. With Toreros occupying first and third and only one, junior Luke Pisker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) came in out of the bullpen and got the Rams out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

Pisker and senior Mick Mattliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X) closed out the contest for the Black and Gold, while A.J. Griffin threw three scoreless innings in relief for the Toreros.

The game was called after 10 complete innings due to darkness and picked up on Friday afternoon before the scheduled 2 p.m. PCT contest.

Gonzalez had a stellar debut in the Black and Gold as he collected two hits and knocked in two of the Rams’ four runs in the game. Leonard and Rodriguez also had two hits in the game and each scored a run apiece.


RAMS, TOREROS CALLED FOR DARKNESS AFTER 10 INNINGS
Game called with score tied at 4-4
2-15-07

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team started their 2007 campaign in unusual fashion as the Rams and University of San Diego played 10 innings before the contest was called for darkness with the score evened at 4-4.

The Black and Gold and the Toreros will pick up the contest tomorrow afternoon as they will finish the game at 1 p.m. PCT (4 p.m. EST) before the second game of the series, which is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. PCT (5 p.m. EST).

The Toreros struck first Logan Gelbrich and Daniel Magness both reached with singles in the bottom of the second and with two outs Sean Nicol laced a double into the left field gap to plate Gelbrich, but John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) connected with Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) who threw a laser to nail Magness at the plate to end the inning with San Diego up 1-0 after two full frames.

The Black and Gold answered quickly as freshman Richard Gonzalez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/PRBA) got the Rams started in the top half of the third with a single to right field and junior Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) plated him two pitches later as he roped a double down the left field line to even the score at 1-1. After a San Diego error moved Evans to third, Miranda gave VCU its first lead of the game at 2-1 as he plated Evans with a single of his own.

The Toreros evened the game up at 2-2 in the fourth inning as four straight San Diego runners reached base with Kevin Hansen delivering the scoring as he plated James Meador with a single.

Gonzalez struck again for the Rams in the top half of the seventh with two outs as he roped a single through the left side to plate Leonard and sophomore Carlos Rodriguez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/PRBA). Leonard reached on a one-out single and Rodriguez followed with a double to start the Black and Gold threat.

San Diego would quickly respond with a Jordan Abruzzo single and Shane Buschini reached on a catcher’s interference call. James Meador scored Abruzzo on a RBI-single and Daniel Magness followed with a squeeze play to plate Buschini and tie the score at 4-4. With Toreros occupying first and third and only one, junior Luke Pisker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) came in out of the bullpen and got the Rams out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

Pisker dueled with San Diego reliever A.J. Griffin until the ninth before senior Mick Mattaliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X) came in to pitch a scoreless 10 th for the Rams.


RAMS SET TO OPEN 2007 CAMPAIGN ON WEST COAST
Black and Gold make second-trip ever to the Golden State

RICHMOND, Va. – For only the second time in school history and the first time in regular season play, the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team will play in California with the only other trip to the Golden State coming in the 1999 NCAA Tournament Regional in Los Angeles.

The Rams take on the University of San Diego Toreros in a four-game series starting on Thursday afternoon. The opening contest will start at 2 p.m. PCT ( 5 p.m. EST), as will the Friday afternoon game. Both Saturday's and Sunday's games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. PCT (4 p.m. EST).

The Rams have opened up three straight seasons with a perfect 3-0 mark and have not started a season outside of Virginia since the 2003 season at Auburn.

The Toreros currently stand at 6-3 for the 2007 season and are ranked 18th by Baseball America in the lastest poll. University of San Diego took two out of three from perenial national power, University of Texas, earlier in the season.

Follow live stats for all four contests by clicking here.

OPENING WEEKEND SERIES VS. LONGWOOD CANCELLED
Bitter weather conditions force cancellation for Rams

RICHMOND, Va. – Although mid-January felt like September in Richmond, February did not cooperate with the plans of the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team as bitter weather has forced the cancellation of the Rams' opening weekend series against in-state rival, Longwood University.

The two teams were scheduled to meet in a double-header on Saturday and a single-game on Sunday, but all three games have been called off.

The Black and Gold now have to wait another week to kick off the 2007 campaign as they will travel to the West Coast and take on the University of San Diego in a four-game set starting Thursday with a 5 p.m. EST contest.

RAMS SELECTED AS PRESEASON FAVORITE IN THE CAA
Miranda, Leonard look to lead VCU back to NCAAs

RICHMOND, Va. – With seven of eight position players returning from a squad that finished 34-24, the Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Colonial Athletic Association, according to a vote of the league’s head baseball coaches.

The Rams, which have averaged nearly 40 wins a year for the last 11 seasons, are under the direction of head coach Paul Keyes, who is the winningest coach in VCU history. Keyes ranks among the top-50 active Division I coaches in winning percentage as he holds a 441-266 career record, all of which came at VCU.

Junior shortstop Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) leads the Rams lineup as the reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Year is coming off one of the best seasons in VCU history. Miranda, who is a two-time first-team All-CAA selection, collected a school record 100 hits while finishing with a .400 batting average and driving in 40 runs for the Black and Gold.

Joining Miranda is sophomore sensation Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass), who is coming off a record-setting year of his own. Bolden, who was a All-CAA Rookie team pick, finished 2006 with a freshman school record batting average of .385. Bolden provides a lot of pop to the Rams’ lineup as he smacked seven homeruns and drove in 45 runs for the Black and Gold in 2006.

On the mound, senior John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) takes over the ace of the staff role as the tall right-hander tied for the team lead with seven wins and ranked first on the squad in innings pitched with 96.0. The native of Virginia Beach, Va. finished with an ERA of 3.61, while striking out 91 and holding opponents to a batting average of .249 against him.

Junior Cody Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) will combine with Leonard to provide VCU with a dynamic 1-2 duo at the top of their rotation. Eppley started 11 games for the Rams last season, finishing with a mark of 6-1 and an ERA of 4.44. In 71.0 innings pitched, Eppley walked just 15 while striking out 53.

The Rams open up their season on February 10 with a doubleheader against in-state rival Longwood University. The double-dip is set to being at 1 p.m. at the Diamond.

RAMS GEARING UP FOR THE SEASON
Black and Gold looking for 12th straight 30-win season

RICHMOND, Va. – Although the calendar reads mid-January, the weather feels much more like mid-spring and the start of baseball season. The Virginia Commonwealth University Baseball Team will do just that as they look forward to the 2007 campaign with the beginning of spring practice just a week away.

The Black and Gold will be looking for their 12th consecutive 30-win season as it is coming off a 34-24 season, including an 18-11 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Rams reached the CAA Tournament Championship Game last season before losing to UNC Wilmington, 7-6.

The Rams will be return a solid lineup as seven of the eight position players saw significant playing time during the 2006 season. Junior shortstop Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) led the Rams at the plate last season, hitting .400 and becoming the first Ram to reach 100 hits in a single season. His offensive was not the only impressive part of Miranda’s game as he was also tabbed the CAA Defensive Player of the Year.

VCU will also look for another stellar year from Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass), a sophomore first baseman from Lynchburg, Va. Last season he was a CAA All-Rookie Team selection and finished seventh in the CAA with a .385 average.  He appeared in all 58 games last year, starting 56.

The Rams are also returning right-handed pitcher John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) (pictured above) . The senior posted career highs in every statistical category during his junior campaign, including seven wins and 96 innings.

The Rams start their season on February 10 with a doubleheader against in-state rival, Longwood University. The Rams and Lancers will also play on Sunday, February 11 before the Black and Gold head to the West Coast for a four-game series with the University of San Diego.


MIRANDA NAMED TO 2007 WALLACE WATCH LIST
Junior shortstop named among nation’s elite
11-27-06

RICHMOND, Va. – After a season in which he set a single-season VCU record for hits and was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year, junior shortstop Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) has been recognized among the nation’s elite as he was named to the 2007 Wallace Watch list, which was released recently by the College Baseball Foundation.

Miranda, who started all 58 games at shortstop last season for the Rams, is one of only three players from the CAA to be recognized as Kellen Kulbacki of James Madison and Brandon Menchaca of Delaware were also named to the list. He is also among a total of five players from universities or colleges in the state of Virginia. A total of 148 baseball student-athletes were named to the Wallace Watch list.

The Rams shortstop hit the .400 clip for the first time in his career last season, as he finished tied for the fourth-best average in a single season in VCU history and also was third-highest in the CAA last season. His .400 average was keyed by a school-record setting 100 hits, five more than the previous record held by recent VCU Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Eric Suave.

Miranda received his second straight First Team All-CAA honor last season as he was second in the Colonial Athletic Association with 20 doubles and also ranked fourth with a .457 on-base percentage. 

The selection committee for the Wallace Award is comprised of a national panel of preeminent coaches, sports information directors, former winners and beat media who most closely follow the sport. Screening Committee members will evaluate the candidates and will continue their review throughout the entire baseball season. The list will expand and contract during the regular season and additional Wallace Watch  candidates may be added as the season progresses. Voting for the three finalists and the Wallace Award winner will be conducted by confidential balloting, with totals tabulated by the J.W. Anderson & Associates accounting firm in Lubbock, TX.

Click here to read the full list of student-athletes.

RAMS ANNOUNCE FIVE EARLY SIGNINGS FOR 2007-2008 RECRUITING CLASS
Black and Gold add three high quality pitchers
11-16-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University head coach Paul Keyes has announced five early signings for the 2007-2008 recruiting class for the Rams baseball program. The class includes three quality arms with left-handers Michael Graham and Ian Thomas and right-hander Justin Moore. A pair of high school teammates, third basemen Michael Cheatham and catcher Eric Curtis, round out the Black and Gold’s early commitments.

“This is a tremendous start to the 2006-2007 recruiting class,” Keyes said. “All five players have the potential to make an immediate impact on our program. These young men are not only talented on the field, they are five high-quality individuals that are equally as great on the field as they are as people. ”

Graham, a Lorton, Va. native, hails from South County High School where the 6’6” left-hander posted a 7-2 record with a 1.84 ERA last spring for the Stallions. He earned Second Team All-Patriot District honors and pitched South County to the Patriot District championship in their first year of baseball participation. Graham is the co-captain of the baseball and basketball squads at South County as has been named to the Baseball Factory and Team One Baseball 2007 Pre-Season All-American teams.

Thomas, a Virginia Beach, Va. native, will come to VCU after spending two seasons with Louisburg Junior College in North Carolina. The 6’4” left-hander brings valuable collegiate pitching experience to the Rams. Thomas is a crafty lefty who will look to fill a void in the pitching staff immediately. He went 3-1 overall last season for the Hurricanes with a 4.26 ERA, allowing just 21 hits in 25.1 innings pitched.

Moore, a Fredericksburg, Va. native, comes to the Rams from Chancellor High School. The powerful 6’2” right-hander carries an arsenal of quality pitches, including an explosive fastball and a high-caliber breaking ball. Moore will help bolster the Black and Gold’s pitching staff immediately.

Cheatham is a strong, intelligent third basemen who hails from Matoaca High School in nearby Chesterfield, Va. He possesses incredible baseball instincts and has unlimited offensive potential. Not only is Cheatham a talented player, he is a great student and will look to have an immediate impact on the Black and Gold. He earned First-Team All-District honors as well as being named to the All-Academic squad.

Curtis teamed with Cheatham last season and helped Matoaca High School capture the Central District championship and earned Second-Team All-District honors. He has a great arm and possesses great receiving skills behind the dish. Curtis has the ability to become one of the better catchers to ever suit up for VCU.

The Rams will open the 2007 season with a doubleheader against in-state rival, Longwood on February 10 at the Diamond.

MEREDITH, INGE MARCH INTO MLB POSTSEASON
10-2-06

RICHMOND, Va. – From the grass and dirt of the Rams’ home field, the Diamond, to the Major League Baseball playoffs, former VCU alums Brandon Inge and Cla Meredith will make that transformation this upcoming week.

Inge, who has become the starting third basemen for the Detroit Tigers, will begin his postseason career in one of the most hallowed places in baseball history, Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., as the Tigers will take on the Yankees in Game 1 of their best-of-five series on Tuesday evening at 8:05 p.m on FOX.

Meredith has enjoyed one of the greatest season ever for a San Diego Padres pitcher. Earlier this season the side-armed righthander set a team record by throwing 35 1/3 straight scoreless innings and was counted on numerous times to bridge the gap between Padres starters’ and Trevor Hoffman, the Padres’ closer. Cla’s journey will begin tomorrow afternoon as San Diego hosts St. Louis at 4:00 p.m on ESPN. 

Inge is currently carrying a .253 batting average with 83 RBIs and 27 homeruns, while scoring 83 runs and stealing seven bases. Meredith has a miniscule 1.07 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched, only giving 30 hits and walking just six. He struck out 37 batters and has held opponents to a .207 batting average.

GOLD TAKES FALL WORLD SERIES WITH 4-2 VICTORY OVER BLACK SQUAD
10-4-06
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Two late inning runs proved to be enough as the Gold team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take VCU Baseball’s Fall Black/Gold World Series two games to one over the Black team. 

Freshman Matt Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) continued his impressive fall as the newcomer roped a double to lead off the top of the second for the Black squad. Leskiw would advance to third on a wild pitch and came in to score when a third strike got away from Gold catcher Nate Furry (Salem, Va./Salem) to give the Black a 1-0 lead. Freshman Darryl Stringfield (Wakefield, Va./Sussex Central), who reached on the dropped third strike, came around to score as Brad Bonney (Norfolk, Va./Maury) continued his hot hitting with a triple to deep right to push the Black advantage to 2-0.

Gold would rally in the sixth as they capitalized on two Black errors and sophomore Justin Wright (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) ripped a two-out triple to even the score at 2-2.

Senior Mick Mattaliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X) laced a two-out double down the right field line and junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) brought in the go-ahead run as he beat out a ground ball to second to give Gold a 3-2 lead. Gold added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Andrew Morgan (Sutherland, Va./Dinwiddie) ripped a two-out double to plate Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside) and give the Gold a 4-2 lead.

Mattaliano picked up the win in relief as the right-hander threw four innings allowing just five hits and no runs, while striking out three. Freshman Phillip Deane (Richmond, Va./Varina) was solid in his debut as he threw five innings allowing five hits and two unearned runs.

Freshman Willie Grider (Richmond, Va./Clover Hill) absorbed the loss in relief for Black as the newcomer allowed three unearned runs in his three innings of work. Senior Bill Wieland (Marlton, N.J./Okaloosa Walton CC) had a solid outing as he threw four shutout innings.

Wright had two hits for the Gold squad as they took advantage of four errors for the Black squad to score three unearned runs. Bonney and senior Barrett Ripley(Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage) each had three hits in a losing effort.

BLACK BOUNCES BACK, DEFEATS GOLD TEAM 13-3 IN GAME TWO
10-3-06
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Sophomores Brad Bonney (Norfolk, Va./Maury) and Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) each collected four hits to lead the Black squad to a 13-3 victory over the Gold team in Game 2 of the Black/Gold Fall World Series.

Bonney scored four runs on the day while collecting two doubles and two RBIs. Jackson had four RBIs and had a double and triple in the winning effort. Freshman Howard Deemer (Washington, N.J./Devidere) had three hits and three RBIs for the Black team.

Junior Josh Gow (Duluth, Mn./Duluth East) picked up the win on the mound as he threw five innings, allowing no earned runs while striking out six. Freshmen Darryl Stringfield (Wakefield, Va./Sussex Central) and Willie Grider (Richmond, Va./Clover Hill) combined with senior John Leonard (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) to throw four perfect innings of relief.

Junior Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) had two hits and an RBI in the losing effort. Fellow classmate Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) absorbed the loss as he threw three innings allowing five earned runs and five hits, while walking three and striking out two.

The rubber match of the Black/Gold Fall World Series will be tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at the Diamond when senior Bill Wieland (Marlton, N.J./Okalossa Walton CC) will take the hill for the Black, while freshman Phillip Deane (Richmond, Va./Varina) will be on the mound for the Gold.

GOLD DEFEATS BLACK, 6-4, IN FIRST GAME OF FALL WORLD SERIES
10-3-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Freshman outfielder M.L. Morgan (Petersburg, Va./Dinwiddie) came up with a clutch two-out, two-RBI single in the bottom of the eighth and junior right-hander Cody Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) shutdown the Black offensive for six innings as the Gold team took Game 1 of the Black/Gold Fall World Series.

Eppley got the start for the Gold throwing six strong innings allowing just one earned run, while striking out five and walking just one. Senior Mick Mattaliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X) picked up the save as he threw one inning in relief, striking out two.

The Gold team was paced by Morgan with the clutch two-out hit to put the game away along with sophomore Justin Wright (Yorktown, Va./Grafton), freshman Richard Gonzalez (Puerto Rico/PRBA) and senior Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside), who all went 2-for-4 in the winning cause.

Freshman Robbie Andrews (Covington, Va./Alleghany) took the loss as he threw four innings allowing three earned runs.

Sophomore Carlos Rodriguez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/PRBA) went 2-for-5 for the Black squad and freshman Matthew Leskiw (Plains, Pa./James) also went 2-for-4 in the losing effort.

The Black and Gold will go at it again today at 3 p.m. as junior Josh Gow (Duluth, Mn./Duluth East) will try and get the Black a win against fellow classmate Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) for the Gold.

ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR BLACK/GOLD WORLD SERIES
10-2-06

RICHMOND, Va. – As the MLB playoffs kick off tomorrow, the Rams are hosting their own “October drama” as VCU’s baseball team will start its Black and Gold World Series tomorrow afternoon and it will go until Friday afternoon. The games will start at 3 p.m. each day and will take place at the Diamond.

The Black squad is led by four seniors, pitchers John Leonard(Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) and Bill Wieland (Marlton, N.J./Okaloosa Walton CC) along with outfielders Barrett Ripley (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage) and Brad Bonney (Norfolk, Va./Maury). The Gold team is led by reiging CAA Defensive Player of the Year, junior shortstop Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA), along with seniors Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside) and Mick Mattaliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X).

2007 Black Roster                           2007 Gold Roster
Sr. RHP John Leonard                      Sr.  OF   Trai Harris
Sr. OF  Barrett Ripley                       Sr. RHP  Mick Mattaliano
So. INF Chris Jackson                       Jr.  INF  Sergio Miranda
Jr.  OF  Kwan Evans                         Jr. RHP   Cody Eppley
So. C   Carlos Rodriguez                    Fr. C  Nathan Furry
Jr. RHP  Josh Gow                            So. INF Justin Wright
Fr. RHP Willie Grider                         Jr. RHP Brett Walker
Sr. OF  Brad Bonney                         Fr. OF  M.L. Morgan
Fr. INF  Sean Holmes                        Fr. INF Richard Gonzalez
Fr. RHP Robbie Andrews                     Fr.  LHP/INF Aaron Morgan
Fr. RHP/OF Darryl Stringfield               Fr. RHP Phillip Deane
Fr. RHP  Howie Deemer                     Fr. LHP Shaun McEnhimer
Sr. RHP  Bill Wieland                         Fr. C Joshua Ware

The opening contest will feature freshman right-hander Robbie Andrews (Covington, Va./Alleghany) dueling with junior right-hander Cody Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York).

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU is 34-24 overall and 18-11 in the CAA. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. The Rams will finish up the World Series on Friday and look to capture another 30-win campaign starting in February.

RAMS BASEBALL TO HOST SCOUT DAY TOMORROW
9-26-06
2007 Roster

RICHMOND, Va. – For all the baseball fans who’s teams have been officially eliminated from the Major League Baseball postseason, the VCU Rams are giving you a chance to check out the up and coming stars and the newest additions to the Black and Gold for the 2007 season. Head coach Paul Keyes announced that the Rams will host a scout day, Wednesday September 27 at the Diamond, official start time for the event is 6 p.m.

Keyes and the Rams are coming off a successful 34-24 campaign in 2006 in which they lost in the CAA Championship game to UNC Wilmington. The Black and Gold add 13 new players to the 2007 roster and welcome back 17 returners, including 2006 Freshman All-American Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass).

The Rams will host a Black and Gold World Series next week at the Diamond, as the roster will be split in half and there will be a four-day long inter-squad series.

BASEBALL TO HOST FIRST EVER HALL OF FAME GOLF OUTING
9-13-06
Register Here

RICHMOND, Va. – Head coach Paul Keyes announced the debut of the VCU Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Outing which will take place on Monday, October 23rd at the prestigious Dominion Club.

The outing provides an opportunity for VCU baseball alumni and friends of the program to enjoy an afternoon of golf followed by a cocktail reception and dinner at the Dominion Club.

The format for the outing will be “Captain’s Choice.” The driving range will be open at 10:00 a.m. with a shotgun start scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for the longest drive, closest to the pin and to the first and second place teams.

For more information on the event, contact Andrew Hartley (aphartle@vcu.edu) or Shawn Stiffler (smstiffler@vcu.edu)

WALKER NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK IN THE COASTAL PLAIN LEAGUE
7-24-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University rising junior Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) was named Rawlings co-Pitcher of the Week in the Coastal Plain League.

The right-hander tossed a one-hit shutout for the Peninsula Pilots against the Spartanburg Stingers on Sunday, July 23. Walker carried a perfect game into the eighth inning before Keon Graves blooped a double down the right field line with one out. Walker recorded his first complete game of the summer with no walks and four strikeouts to raise his record to 3-4. The Pilots scored all their runs in the sixth and seventh innings in a 9-0 victory over the Stingers.

Walker led the VCU pitching staff with four saves this past season. He was second with 24 appearances and struck out 33 in 49.2 innings.

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU was 34-24 overall and 18-11 in the CAA this past spring. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. VCU reached the championship game of the CAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years.

SIZEMORE HAS FIVE HITS IN 26-INNING MINOR-LEAGUE MARATHON
7-21-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Former VCU All-American Scott Sizemore (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) had five hits in a 6-1 victory for the Oneonta Tigers over the Brooklyn Cyclones on July 20 in a game that lasted 26 innings, the longest game in New York-Penn League history.

A fifth-round pick of the Detroit Tigers, Sizemore went 5 for 10 with two walks to raise his batting average to .346, third-highest in the New York-Penn League. He leads the league with 127 at bats, 26 runs, 44 hits and 63 total bases. Sizemore is third in the league with 24 RBI. Sizemore is the reigning Player of the Week in the New York-Penn League, hitting .333 last week with four runs, two homers and 11 RBI.

Brooklyn scored in the bottom of the first, but eight Oneonta pitchers combined for 25 scoreless innings. The Tigers tallied a run in the fourth before erupting for five in the top of the 26th against Mark Wright, an outfielder who had not pitched since high school.

The contest lasted six hours and 40 minutes. The teams combined for 34 hits, just five for extra bases. Oneonta stranded 22 base runners, while Brooklyn left 21 on base. A total of 684 pitches were thrown by 15 hurlers, who registered 36 strikeouts.

The longest New York-Penn League game had been last year’s 22-inning affair between the Batavia Muckdogs and the Auburn Doubledays. The longest game in Minor League history remains Pawtucket’s 33-inning win over Rochester in 1981.

STIFFLER NAMED ASSISTANT BASEBALL COACH
7-13-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University head baseball coach Paul Keyes has announced the hiring of Shawn Stiffler as an assistant coach.

Stiffler replaces Mark McQueen, who left VCU to become associate head coach at the University of Richmond for one season and then head coach of the Spiders. Stiffler will be the pitching coach for the Rams and will coordinate recruiting for the VCU program.

“Shawn is an outstanding hire for VCU,” said Keyes. “He brings energy, a great knowledge of pitching, and a knowledge of CAA and regional competition. Shawn will be a tremendous asset to the VCU baseball program and the VCU family. He will be another excellent coach in the tradition rich program VCU has built.”

A native of Somerset, Pa., Stiffler was an assistant coach for the past five seasons at his alma mater, George Mason. The Patriot pitchers had a team ERA of 4.73 in 2002, 4.16 in 2004 and 4.03 in 2005, the third-lowest in school history. Their control was strong as well, setting a school record with just 138 walks in 2002. The 2004 staff surrendered 146 free passes and the 2005 squad allowed 148 walks. The 2005 staff recorded 387 strikeouts, the second-highest total in George Mason history.

The Patriots were 20-31 this past season and 12-18 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Mason had three players drafted, including two pitchers. J.J. Pannell was taken by the Washington Nationals and Jason Mills was selected by the Baltimore Orioles.

Stiffler, 26, earned a B.A. degree in communication from George Mason in December, 2001, after a four-year career as a pitcher for the Patriots. Stiffler is a 1997 graduate of Somerset High School, where he earned honorable mention All-America honors from USA Today and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 53rd round. He was also an outstanding basketball player at Somerset.



EPPLEY, WRIGHT NAMED TO NYCBL ALL-STAR TEAM
7-6-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore Cody Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) and freshman Justin Wright (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) were named to the West All-Star Team in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL).

Eppley and Wright play for the Elmira Pioneers, coached by former Ram Matt Burch. Eppley is 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA. He has 16 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. Wright has started all 24 games. He has a .273 batting average with 24 hits, 13 runs, six doubles, one triple, two home runs, 14 RBI and seven steals. The NYCBL All-Star Game is Thursday, July 6, at 6 p.m. in Watertown, N.Y.

Several other Rams are also playing summer ball. Sophomore Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) is batting .260 for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod League. He has 13 hits in 14 games with one double, four runs, five RBI and five steals.

Freshman Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) and Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) are teammates with the Torrington Twisters in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Bolden is batting .308 in 15 games with one triple, nine runs, eight RBI, 10 walks and an on-base percentage of .429. Jackson is hitting .151 with two doubles, eight hits, nine runs, three RBI and five steals.

Five Rams are playing in the Coastal Plain League. Sophomore Brett Walker (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) is 2-2 with the Peninsula Pilots with 19 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. Sophomore Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) is batting .182 with Peninsula with six steals and an on-base percentage of .325. Junior Mick Mattaliano (Pottstown, Pa./Saint Pius X) leads the Petersburg Generals with 12 appearances. He has two walks and 23 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. Redshirt freshman Shaun McEnhimer (Chesterfield, Va./L.C. Bird) has four strikeouts in 3.2 innings with the Generals. Redshirt freshman Willie Grider (Richmond, Va./Clover Hill) has no walks and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings with the Florence RedWolves.

MOZINGO, MIRANDA NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-REGION
6-28-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University junior right-hander Harold Mozingo (Tappahannock, Va./Essex) and sophomore shortstop Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-East Region first team, in voting by the head coaches in the region. Senior Tim St. Clair (Woodbridge, Va./Chesapeake CC) was named second team All-Region as designated hitter.

Mozingo posted a 7-1 record with a 2.45 ERA, the top mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. He walked 14 and struck out 101 in 95.2 innings with 54 hits. Opponents hit .163 against Mozingo, the best in the CAA. A first-team all-conference selection, Mozingo was taken in the sixth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals.

Miranda started all 58 games at shortstop for the Rams and batted .400, the third-best average in the CAA. He was CAA Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-CAA. Miranda set a VCU record with 100 hits, the top mark in the conference. He was second in the CAA with 20 doubles and fourth with a .457 on-base percentage.

St. Clair was First Team All-CAA as DH. He batted .335 with 17 doubles, eight home runs and 46 RBI. St. Clair batted .444 in six CAA tourney games and was named to the all-tournament team. St. Clair also posted a 3-1 record on the mound with a 2.87 ERA. He struck out 38 in 37.2 innings with nine walks.

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU was 34-24 overall and 18-11 in the CAA. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. VCU reached the championship game of the CAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years.

ANDERSON SIGNS WITH ROCKIES
6-19-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University senior catcher Nate Anderson (San Jose, Calif./Lincoln H.S./San Jose City College) has signed a free agent contract with the Colorado Rockies. He will report to the Casper Rockies in the Pioneer League, joining teammate Michael Gibbs.

Anderson appeared in 51 games with the Rams this season with 45 starts, including 44 starts behind the plate. He batted .305 with 10 doubles, 27 runs and 22 RBI. Anderson was named to the 2006 Colonial Athletic Association All-Tournament Team. In six tourney games, he had seven hits, four runs and five RBI. He also caught all 52 innings. Anderson finished the year with hits in eight of his last nine contests.

Anderson was the fourth Ram to enter professional baseball this spring. Junior second baseman Scott Sizemore was selected in the fifth round of the draft by the Detroit Tigers. Junior right-hander Harold Mozingo was chosen in the sixth round by the Kansas City Royals. Senior right-hander Michael Gibbs was taken in the 17th round by the Colorado Rockies.

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU was 34-24 overall and 18-11 in the CAA this spring. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. VCU reached the championship game of the CAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years.

BOLDEN NAMED TO FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
6-8-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University first baseman Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) has been named to the 2006 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team, as selected by Collegiate Baseball.

Bolden batted .385 during his rookie campaign, the second-highest average on the team and the eighth-best single-season mark in VCU history. Bolden ranked sixth in the Colonial Athletic Association in batting. He appeared in all 58 games for the Rams with 56 starts. Bolden amassed 85 hits with 46 runs, 13 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs and 45 RBI. His slugging percentage of .602 led the team. He walked 23 times, had an on-base percentage of .442 and stole 12 bases. A strong glove in the field, Bolden had a fielding percentage of .987, committing just seven errors in 536 chances.

The lefty Bolden made 10 appearances on the mound for the Rams, posting a 3-5 record with 26 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.

Bolden was selected to the 2006 CAA All-Rookie Team. He was named CAA Player of the Week once and CAA Rookie of the Week three times this season.

VCU has had seven Freshman All-Americans in the past eight years, including shortstop Sergio Miranda last season, second baseman Scott Sizemore in 2004 and current Chicago Cub left-hander Sean Marshall in 2001. Current Detroit Tiger Brandon Inge was a Freshman All-American in 1996.

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU was 34-24 overall and 18-11 in the CAA this past spring. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. VCU reached the championship game of the CAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years.

MOZINGO SELECTED IN SIXTH ROUND BY KANSAS CITY ROYALS
6-6-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University junior right-hander Harold Mozingo (Tappahannock, Va./Essex) has been selected by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the first player taken in the sixth round and the 167th selection overall.

Mozingo posted a 7-1 record with a 2.45 ERA, the top mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. He walked 14 and struck out 101 in 95.2 innings with 54 hits. Opponents hit .163 against Mozingo, the best in the CAA. His 101 strikeouts matched his total of 2005, the sixth-highest total in school history.

Mozingo registered a 22-9 record in three seasons with the Rams with a 4.04 ERA. In 263 innings, he allowed 206 hits with 111 walks and 284 strikeouts, the second-highest total in VCU history.

Mozingo was the second VCU player taken in the 2006 draft. Junior second baseman Scott Sizemore was selected in the fifth round by the Detroit Tigers.

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU was 34-24 overall and 18-11 in the CAA this spring. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. VCU reached the championship game of the CAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years.

SIZEMORE TAKEN IN FIFTH ROUND BY DETROIT TIGERS
6-6-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University junior second baseman Scott Sizemore (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) has been selected by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 142nd player chosen.

Sizemore started all 58 games at second base for the Rams this past season. He batted .300 with 15 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs and 44 runs batted in. Sizemore stole 14 bases and led the team with 55 runs.

During his three seasons with the Rams, Sizemore started 165 of 167 games. He hit .331 with 51 doubles, 12 triples, 20 home runs, 126 RBI and 154 runs. Sizemore is ninth on VCU’s career list for batting average, fourth for slugging percentage at .539, third for doubles, fourth for triples and 10th for home runs.

Sizemore was named Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Association this season after earning first-team honors as a sophomore. Sizemore was third team All-America a season ago.

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU was 34-24 overall and 18-11 in the CAA this spring. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. VCU reached the championship game of the CAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years.

GIBBS DRAFTED IN 17TH ROUND BY COLORADO ROCKIES
6-6-06

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University senior right-hander Michael Gibbs (Philadelphia, Pa./Roxborough HS/Young Harris) has been selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 17th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 498th selection overall.

Gibbs made 19 appearances for the Rams this spring, all but one in relief. Gibbs record two saves and had a 2.70 ERA. In 30.0 innings, he allowed 23 hits and 17 walks with 33 strikeouts. Opponents hit just .213 against Gibbs.

One of his top performances of the season came at top-ranked North Carolina. Gibbs pitched three hitless innings against the Tar Heels.

In two seasons with the Rams, Gibbs was 2-1 with two saves. He recorded 51 strikeouts in 55.1 innings.

Gibbs was the third VCU player taken in the 2006 draft. Junior second baseman Scott Sizemore was selected in the fifth round by the Detroit Tigers. Junior right-hander Harold Mozingo was chosen in the sixth round by the Kansas City Royals.

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU was 34-24 overall and 18-11 in the CAA this spring. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. VCU reached the championship game of the CAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years.

SEAHAWKS RALLY FOR THREE IN BOTTOM OF NINTH AS RAMS FALL 7-6
5-28-06
BOXSCORE

WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 28, 2006) - Junior catcher Chris Hatcher's two-run triple to right-center completed a three-run UNC Wilmington rally in the bottom of the ninth as the fifth-seeded Seahawks edged #4 VCU 7-6 in the title game of the 2006 CAA Baseball Championship Sunday afternoon at Brooks Field.

It was the second CAA crown in the past three seasons for UNCW (41-20), who came from behind in the final inning to win three of its four contests in the tournament. The Seahawks earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, whose 64-team field will be announced on Monday afternoon. VCU, which beat UNCW 14-7 on Saturday to force the deciding game, fell to 34-24 with the loss.

Senior right-hander Adam Paul (7-2) earned the win for the Seahawks after scattering four hits in four innings of shutout relief. John Leonard (7-5) suffered the loss for the Rams after giving up the game-winning hit in the ninth.

UNCW freshman outfielder Grayson Evans was 2-for-4 with an RBI and seven other Seahawks had one hit. VCU was led by catcher Nate Anderson, who was 3-for-5 with two RBI, and designated hitter Tim St. Clair, who was also 3-for-5. The Rams had 15 hits in the contest, but left 12 runners on base.

Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth, UNCW second baseman Lee McLean drew a leadoff walk and came around to score when pinch-hitter Jason Appel doubled inside the first base bag. The Seahawks put runners on the corners with none out after Leonard was unable to handle Justin Barefoot's sacrifice bunt. That set the stage for Hatcher, whose liner to the gap in right-center rolled to the wall and allowed Appel and Barefoot to score with the winning runs.

For the 11th consecutive game, VCU got on the board in the first inning. Shortstop Sergio Miranda beat out an infield single, moved around to third on a fielding error and groundout, and scored on a wild pitch. UNCW drew even in the bottom of the frame when third baseman Matt Poulk launched a towering shot to center for his team-leading 14th home run of the season.

The Rams broke the game open with a four-run second inning. Outfielder Joe Meador singled to open the frame and moved to third on a double by Trai Harris. Anderson followed with a single that plated Meador. With one out, Miranda stroked an RBI double to right and Kwan Evans lined a two-run single to left-center that gave VCU a 5-1 lead.

The Rams increased their advantage to five in the top of the fifth as Meador smacked a leadoff triple to center and came home on a one-out single by Anderson.

UNCW rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. McLean drew a leadoff walk and shortstop Kenny Smith singled up the middle. Barefoot, making his first start in the tournament, followed with a bloop double to left that plated McLean and also scored Smith when the outfielder bobbled the ball. One out later, Barefoot made it 6-4 as he came across on Grayson Evans' infield single.

Hatcher was selected as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. He was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates McLean, Poulk, Grayson Evans and Bradley Holt. Earning all-tournament honors from VCU were Anderson, St. Clair, Scott Sizemore and Jared Bolden. Rounding out the squad were Ryan Reid and Mitchell Moses of James Madison.

RAMS ONE GAME AWAY FROM NCAA TOURNAMENT WITH 14-7 WIN AT UNCW
5-27-06
BOXSCORE

WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 27, 2006) - Fourth-seeded VCU forced a deciding game in the 2006 CAA Baseball Championship, pounding out 15 hits in a 14-7 triumph over #5 UNC Wilmington on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field. The Rams and Seahawks will meet again on Sunday at 1 p.m. with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

It was the second victory of the day for VCU (34-20), which defeated top-seeded James Madison 6-1 in the completion of a contest that was suspended by stormy weather in the first inning late Friday night. The Rams will be looking to claim their fourth CAA championship in five years on Sunday, while UNCW (40-20), which suffered its first loss in the tournament, hopes to pick up its second CAA crown after winning the title in 2004.

The 3-4-5 hitters in the Rams' lineup combined for nine hits and seven RBI in the game. Freshman first baseman Jared Bolden was 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, designated hitter Tim St. Clair went 3-for-5 and drove in two and second baseman Scott Sizemore was 2-for-4, scored three times and knocked in three. The Seahawks were led by Matt Poulk and Daniel Hargrave, who each collected two hits. Poulk went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer while Hargrave went 2-for-4 with a two-run shot.

Junior right-hander Bill Wieland (4-3) earned the win for VCU after fanning six in a six-inning relief stint. He held the Seahawks scoreless for four innings before giving up five runs in the seventh and eighth. Starter Jared Sutton (1-1) took the loss for UNCW after surrendering five runs over four-plus frames.

Leading 3-1, VCU blew the game open by batting around and scoring six runs in the fifth. Sutton hit the first two batters in the inning and outfielder Kwan Evans greeted Seahawks' reliever Allen Flood with a single to load the bases. Sizemore lined a two-run double to center that made it 5-1 and St. Clair followed with another double down the left-field line that plated two more. Bolden singled to score St. Clair and a two-run single by catcher Nate Anderson pushed the VCU advantage to 9-1.

UNCW got as close as six on two occasions after that as Hargrave and Lee McLean hit back-to-back homers in the seventh and Poulk smacked a two-run shot in the eighth.

The Seahawks opened the game by loading the bases with none out against VCU starter Michael Gibbs, but managed only one run when Jonathan Batts' sacrifice fly plated Chris Hatcher. UNCW filled the bases again in the second and third innings but couldn't get a run across. The Seahawks stranded 14 runners in the contest.

The Rams took the lead for good in the bottom of the first on Bolden's two-run single to right. It was the 10th consecutive game that VCU has scored in the first inning. Rams' shortstop Sergio Miranda was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI in the contest, increasing his VCU-record hits total to 98 on the season.

ST. CLAIR FANS CAREER-HIGH 11 IN 6-1 WIN OVER JAMES MADISON
5-27-06
BOXSCORE

WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 27, 2006) - After enduring a 13-hour, 22-minute rain delay from a game halted late Friday due to stormy weather, No. 4-seeded VCU clipped #1 James Madison, 6-1, in the ninth game of the 2006 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Championship Saturday at Brooks Field.

The Rams improved to 33-23 and will meet No. 5 UNC Wilmington in the championship round at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Seahawks, who advanced to the championship game with a stunning 10-9 comeback win over JMU Friday, need just one win for their second CAA crown. A VCU win in the 3:30 contest would force another matchup at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The 38-21 Dukes meanwhile, went 2-2 in the four-day, six-team tournament and hope to land an at-large berth to the NCAA Regionals. Pairings for the NCAA's will be announced at 12:30 p.m. Monday in a nationally-broadcast special on ESPN.

The Rams and Seahawks have combined to win the last four league titles. VCU, which has won three of the last four CAA crowns (2002, 2003 and 2005), advance to the championship for the fourth time in the last five years. UNCW captured its only hardware in 2004.

VCU senior righthander Tim St. Clair (3-1) allowed just one earned run in seven innings, striking out a career-high 11 batters and walking four. Senior reliever Michael Gibbs pitched one-hit ball over the last two frames. JMU's Jacob Cook (4-4) was saddled with the loss. The junior southpaw gave up six earned runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out five.

St. Clair also helped his own cause, collecting two of VCU's eight hits and driving in a pair of runs. Six other players had one hit apiece for the Rams, who return to the championship game after walloping Towson, 13-6, in the 2005 finale. Sophomore third baseman Joe Lake had two hits for the Dukes.

Following the resumption of play from Friday's washed out start, VCU jumped on JMU early and held on to advance to the championship round. The Dukes, who failed to score in the final six innings of Friday's loss to the Seahawks, did not get on the board until the top of the seventh Saturday, going 13 frames without scoring.

The Rams sent all nine batters to the plate and scored five runs in the top of the first against the Dukes. With the bases loaded and an 1-2 count, St. Clair slapped a single to leftfield to bring home Sergio Miranda and Kwan Evans. Jared Bolden then dialed long distance, crushing his seventh home of the season beneath the scoreboard in rightfield, plating Scott Sizemore and St. Clair and staking the Rams to a quick 5-0 margin.

VCU pushed the lead to 6-0 with another tally in the second. With two outs, Sizemore belted a towering solo homer over the leftfield wall and the Rams enjoyed a six-run lead. It was also his seventh road tripper of the campaign.

JMU attempted a late rally, but fell short as the Rams closed out the victory. In the eighth inning, Lake reached on an infield single, Michael Cowgill drew a walk and Kellen Kubacki was hit for the 18th time this season to load the bases, chasing St. Clair. Gibbs came on and fanned Nate Schill, but Mitchell Moses ripped an RBI single to leftfield, scoring Lake. But Gibbs retired Matt Bristow and Lee Bujakowski to stall the rally.

Miranda set VCU's single season record with his 96th hit when he beat out a chopper to deep short in the bottom of the fourth inning.

MEADOR HAS THREE HITS, ONE OF FOUR VCU HOMERS IN 6-1 WIN OVER GSU
5-26-06
BOXSCORE

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Senior Joe Meador (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) had three hits, including one his team's four home runs, as fourth-seeded VCU defeated No. 6 Georgia State 6-1 in an elimination game Thursday afternoon in the 2006 CAA Tournament at Brooks Field.

Meador's solo shot to start the fourth, his team-leading 10th, gave VCU (32-23) a 3-0 lead. He also had a pair of singles and a stolen base. Meador ran into the wall chasing a ball in the third. He rebounded and threw a runner out at the plate on the next pitch.

Sophomore Cody Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) gave the Rams their second complete game of the tournament in raising his record to 6-1. He allowed six hits and one run, walked one and struck out four.

Junior Scott Sizemore (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) started the scoring with a two-run homer in the first, his sixth. Freshman Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) crushed a two-run blast over the scoreboard in right center in the third to push the lead to 5-0. Sophomore Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) went deep in the fourth to give VCU a 6-0 cushion.

The Panthers (26-31) got their run in the top of the fifth on back-to-back doubles by junior T.J. Brandenburg and freshman Matt Van Horn.

VCU will play a second elimination game on Thursday evening at 7 pm against the loser of the James Madison/UNC Wilmington game, being played at 3:30 pm.

ST. CLAIR HAS TWO HITS, BUT RAMS FALL TO SEAHAWKS 8-2 IN CAA TOURNEY
5-25-06
BOXSCORE

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Senior Tim St. Clair (Woodbridge, Va./Garfield) had two hits, but VCU scored single runs in the first and ninth innings, while UNC Wilmington scored three in the fourth, two in the sixth and three in the eighth, as the fifth-seeded Seahawks topped the fourth-seeded Rams 8-2 on the second day of the 2006 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Championship Thursday evening at Brooks Field.

VCU (31-23) will face sixth-seeded Georgia State on Friday at 12 noon in an elimination game. UNCW (39-19) will meet top-seeded James Madison on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

The Rams scored in the first inning for the seventh consecutive game. Sophomore Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) led off the game with a single up the middle. Sophomore Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel) was hit by a pitch, moving Miranda to second. After a fielder's choice moved the runners up one base, senior Joe Meador (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) singled to left, bring home Miranda with the game's first run. Evans tried to score from second, but was called out at the plate.

VCU had runners on in seven of the next eight innings, but hit into three double plays and stranded nine runners. Freshman Justin Wright (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) walked and scored on an error in the ninth for the Rams' second run.

UNC Wilmington bunched its 11 hits into three innings. The Seahawks had three hits in the fourth for three runs, capped by a two-run triple by freshman Grayson Evans, as the home team took a 3-1 lead.

The Seahawks got three more hits and two runs in the sixth as senior John Raynor had an RBI double and scored on a base hit by Evans to give UNCW a 5-1 advantage.

UNCW had five hits and three runs in the eighth as the Seahawks built an 8-1 lead.

St. Clair had a single in the third and a base hit in the eighth for the Rams. Evans had three hits and three RBI for the Seahawks, while senior Matt Poulk added three hits and three runs for UNCW.

Freshman right-hander Bradley Holt went 8.2 innings for the Seahawks with eight hits, two runs, one earned run, five walks and six strikeouts. He threw 159 pitches.

MOZINGO GOES DISTANCE AS RAMS TOP HUSKIES 10-3 IN CAA TOURNAMENT
5-24-06
BOXSCORE

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Twelve VCU hits and five Northeastern errors overshadowed what was expected to be an elite pitching duel, and the fourth-seeded Rams defeated the third-seeded Huskies 10-3 on the opening day of the CAA Baseball Championship at Brooks Field Wednesday afternoon.

Scouts showed up to watch a match-up of the two first-team All-CAA starting pitchers, Northeastern's Adam Ottavino and VCU's Harold Mozingo (Tappahannock, Va./Essex), but it was the Rams' offense that stole the show.

Third baseman Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, including three runs scored, three RBIs and his fifth home run of the season. Second baseman Scott Sizemore (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) tallied four RBI as all but one Ram in the lineup registered a hit, and all but two tallied a run.

Mozingo lived up to his all-conference billing, tossing a complete-game four-hitter with five strikeouts to improve his record to 7-1. It was his fifth complete game of the season, which ties him for first in the league. Three of the four hits he allowed came in the first inning, with the only other coming on a Dan Milano home run in the fourth. After the first four batters reached, only two of the final 28 batters reached base for the Huskies.

Despite allowing 10 hits, Ottavino (4-5) threw seven innings, walking three while fanning six. Only three of his seven runs allowed were earned, as he withstood a four-run, three-error second inning.

VCU (31-22), which posted its ninth-consecutive opening-round win in the CAA Tournament, moves on to play the winner of tonight's Old Dominion-UNC Wilmington game at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Northeastern (27-22) faces top-seeded James Madison tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.

VCU saw some good fortune in the opening inning as Kwan Evans (Hampton, Va./Bethel), who reached on a fielder's choice, advanced all the way from first to third when Ottavino threw away a pick-off attempt. Sizemore promptly skied a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Evans to tag-up and slide under the tag for the first run of the game.

Northeastern answered back in the bottom of the first, rattling off three straight hits and a walk with its first four batters. Chris Emanuele doubled before Matt Morizio blooped a single to advance him to third. Mike Tamsin then laced a line-drive single up the middle to score Emanuele and send Morizio to second. After Dan Milano reached on a base on balls, Maher grounded into a double play that plated Morizio in the process to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead after one.

The Rams responded with four runs in the second to take the lead for good. Jared Bolden started the inning with a bunt single to short. Trai Harris (Newport News, Va./Woodside) hit a single to right that Maher bobbled, allowing Bolden to race all the way around to score. Harris, who advanced into scoring position on the throw home, added the Rams' second run of the inning when Jackson singled up the middle. Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) reached first on the Huskies' third error of the inning and Evans loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch. Sizemore then tallied his second and third RBI's of the day with a base hit to right, scoring Jackson and Miranda.

VCU added one more in the fourth inning on Sizemore's fourth RBI of the day. Back-to-back singles by Jackson and Miranda were followed by an Evans sacrifice bunt. Sizemore then launched a fly ball to the left-center field warning track, allowing Jackson to tag up for the Rams' sixth run of the game.

Northeastern made it 6-3 in the bottom of the fourth when Milano crushed his ninth homer of the season over the 360-foot marker of the right-center field wall. VCU tacked on one more run in the top of the sixth when Tim St. Clair (Woodbridge, Va./Garfield) singled home Evans, who scored from second following a walk and a steal.

In the top of the ninth, the Rams' Joe Meador (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) walked before advancing to second on a Harris pop-fly, and then scored on a single by Nate Anderson (San Jose, Calif./Lincoln) single to make it 8-3. Jackson capped off the game's scoring with a two-run round-tripper to straight-away center field.

MIRANDA NAMED CAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
5-23-06

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore shortstop Sergio Miranda (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/PRBA) has been named Defensive Player of the Year in the Colonial Athletic Association in voting by the league’s head coaches.

Miranda was also named First Team All-CAA, along with senior Tim St. Clair (Woodbridge, Va./Garfield) at DH and junior right-hander Harold Mozingo (Tappahannock, Va./Essex) as a starting pitcher. Junior second baseman Scott Sizemore (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) was named Second Team All-CAA. Miranda, St. Clair and Sizemore were first-team selections a season ago, while Mozingo earned second-team honors.

Freshmen Jared Bolden (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass) and Chris Jackson (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) were named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.

Miranda has started every game at shortstop for the Rams. He leads the CAA with 93 hits and is second in the conference with a.419 batting average. He has reached base in 24 consecutive games.

St. Clair leads the Rams with 41 RBI and is second with eight home runs. He had a 13-game hitting streak earlier this season. St. Clair also has a 2-1 record as a pitcher, with 27 strikeouts in 30.2 innings.

Mozingo has posted a 6-1 record with a 2.07 ERA, the top mark in the conference. He has walked 14 and struck out 93 in 82.2 innings with 46 hits. Opponents are hitting .160 against Mozingo, the best in the CAA.

A Preseason All-American, Sizemore has an eight-game hitting streak. He is batting .300 with 14 doubles, seven triples, five homers and 34 RBI. Sizemore has scored in each of the past eight games and leads the team with 49 runs.

Bolden had played in all 52 games this season with 50 starts, primarily at first base. He is second on the team and seventh in the CAA with a .383 batting average, currently the ninth-highest season average in VCU history. Bolden has 13 doubles, six triples, five home runs and 38 RBI. He also earned three wins on the mound for the Rams.

Jackson earned the starting position at third base for VCU with a strong arm and a solid glove. He had appeared in 43 games with 34 starts. Jackson is batting .244 with four doubles, one triple, four home runs and 21 RBI. He is also a perfect 7 for 7 on stolen bases.

Under head coach Paul Keyes, VCU is 30-22 overall and 18-11 in the CAA. The Rams have recorded 11 consecutive winning seasons and 11 straight 30-win campaigns. The Rams will be the fourth seed in this week’s conference tournament in Wilmington, N.C. VCU opens play against No. 3 seed Northeastern on Wednesday, May 24, at 3:30 p.m. at Brooks Field.