Box Score FINAL: VCU 4 (22-15, 7-4 A10), Saint Joseph's 2 (11-19, 3-7 A10)
LOCATION: Smithson Field – Philadelphia, Pa.
VCU STARTERS: Farrar (DH), Bunn (LF), Davis (3B), Machin (SS), Carpenter (1B), Acker (RF), Kerrigan (CF), Haymaker (C), Berezo (2B), Blanchard (SP)
SAINT JOSEPH'S STARTERS: Maul (SS), Boyd (2B), Brue (RF), Stafford (DH), Kancylarz (3B), Coghlin (1B), Jadacki (LF), Lau (C), Pater (CF), Pallante (SP)
THE BASICS: VCU clinched the series victory with a 4-2 win today over Saint Joseph's and will go for the sweep tomorrow. JoJo Howie threw six great innings for the Rams, allowing the two runs while striking out nine and allowing zero walks. At the plate Vimael Machin drove in a couple of runs and Daane Berezo led the way with three hits. Daniel Concepcion came in for the three inning save, allowing just one base runner in the final third of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- As was the case in the first game of the series, the Rams struck first today. In the top of the third Vimael Machin singled to centerfield to drive in a couple of runs and give VCU a 2-0 lead.
- Both teams gave the home plate umpire plenty to do early on in the game; three separate times in the first three and a half innings the third out came at the plate on a throw from the outfield.
- Saint Joseph's answered in the bottom of the fourth with a solo homerun to right field to lead off the inning.
- In the bottom of the fifth the Hawks tied the game up at 2-2 on a double down the left field line that sailed just past the glove of a leaping Cooper Mickelson.
- The Rams took the lead back in the top of the sixth thanks to an RBI double to left field by Walker Haymaker. Daane Berezo then followed that up with a single to right field that scored Haymaker.
- On the mound today starter JoJo Howie provided the Rams with another great start, going six strong innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.
- Daniel Concepcion came in for the three inning save and shut down the Hawks, allowing just one base runner in his three innings and finishing up the 4-2 VCU win.
QUOTABLE: "Great job by the Rams today. I was really proud of their toughness, to come out and win a game like that on the road was great. It started with our pitching and defense; JoJo Howie and Daniel Concepcion were both fabulous today and we played errorless baseball which gave us the opportunity to win. And then from there we had two three-out RBI which were huge for us, it really showed their toughness. Really proud of the boys for the way they came out and won the series and we'll be looking to get another win tomorrow." -Head Coach Shawn Stiffler
UP NEXT: The third and final game in this weekend series will be tomorrow, Sunday, at 1 pm.
