Friday, April 27
Davidson, N.C.
6:00 p.m.
Davidson College
26-14, 11-5
10
vs
9
VCU
27-15, 10-6
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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H
E
VCU
0
0
5
2
0
1
0
0
1
9
14
2
Davidson
0
0
2
0
2
1
1
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10
19
1
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
'Cats Walk-Off at Wilson Friday Against VCU 10-9
4/27/2018 10:13:00 PM | Baseball
DavidsonPhotos.com
Davidson- VCU Box Score (PDF)
Highlights
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson baseball certainly delivered the dramatics Friday night, winning on a walk off against VCU- which entered the weekend tied with the 'Cats for second place in the league- 10-9 after scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth at Wilson Field. The 'Cats extend their streak to eight consecutive Friday night victories.The win is their second walk-off at Wilson this season.
Davidson improves to 26-14, 11-5 with the win, while VCU drops to 27-15, 10-6.
The 'Cats pounded out 19 hits in the contest, their second most this season, and combined with VCU for 33 total hits, ranking near the top in the NCAA this season for single-game total hits.
Senior Alec Acosta matched a career-high, tallying four hits for the third time in his career. His last four-hit game was also against VCU, last May during the A-10 Championship. Junior Max Bazin added three hits and scored one of the timely runs in the ninth.
Veteran Andrew Born blasted his first career homer, becoming the 13th Wildcat to blast a long ball this season, ranking Davidson second in the nation in that statistic. Sophomore Matt Frey also homered, his second of the season. The junior duo of Justin Lebek and Eric Jones and senior Cam Johnson each collected two hits each.
Junior Andrew Ashur delivered just three pitches in relief to pick up his first win of the season, and was aided by spotless relief outings from senior Josh Smutzer and sophomore Jaret LaCagnina. Smutzer faced just one batter over his minimum while striking out two, and LaCagnina tossed just six pitches for two quick outs in a jam.
The dramatics came rapidly for the 'Cats, who began the ninth trailing by three. Three straight singles from Lebek, Bazin, and Frey presented trouble, as Lebek crossed home on Frey's gap single through the right side. With two men on, sophomore Ward Coleman executed a perfect bunt, reaching on a single to load the bases. Johnson worked a five-pitch walk to bring home Bazin and put the 'Cats down just one run.
With two outs and bases juiced, enter Jones, who battled a full-count before slicing a ball towards third base. The Rams tried to make the play at first as Coleman scored to tie the game, but a hurried misplay at first resulted in Jones reaching via error and freshman Alex Mardiney, who pinch-ran for Frey, to score the game winner.
VCU took the lead early, scoring five times in the third, all coming on one out. The 'Cats cut the lead the bottom of that frame, as Born launched a leadoff solo shot and Acosta singled then scored via a Jones double.
The Rams plated two more runs in the fourth to intensify their lead, and then Davidson added two in the fifth to make it 7-4. VCU then scored a run in the sixth, and a double from Coleman followed by a lucky hit-off-the-pitcher up the middle for Johnson brought him home. In the seventh, Frey homered to continue the 'Cats clawing back, but the deficit looked grim after the Rams blasted a solo shot in the ninth to make it 9-6.
The 'Cats and Rams continue with the series Saturday, slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch. It will be Family Fun Day, with inflatables, food trucks, and the Bullpen Beer Garden sponsored by NoDA Brewing Company in Charlotte.
Davidson- VCU Box Score (PDF)
Highlights
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson baseball certainly delivered the dramatics Friday night, winning on a walk off against VCU- which entered the weekend tied with the 'Cats for second place in the league- 10-9 after scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth at Wilson Field. The 'Cats extend their streak to eight consecutive Friday night victories.The win is their second walk-off at Wilson this season.
Davidson improves to 26-14, 11-5 with the win, while VCU drops to 27-15, 10-6.
The 'Cats pounded out 19 hits in the contest, their second most this season, and combined with VCU for 33 total hits, ranking near the top in the NCAA this season for single-game total hits.
Senior Alec Acosta matched a career-high, tallying four hits for the third time in his career. His last four-hit game was also against VCU, last May during the A-10 Championship. Junior Max Bazin added three hits and scored one of the timely runs in the ninth.
Veteran Andrew Born blasted his first career homer, becoming the 13th Wildcat to blast a long ball this season, ranking Davidson second in the nation in that statistic. Sophomore Matt Frey also homered, his second of the season. The junior duo of Justin Lebek and Eric Jones and senior Cam Johnson each collected two hits each.
Junior Andrew Ashur delivered just three pitches in relief to pick up his first win of the season, and was aided by spotless relief outings from senior Josh Smutzer and sophomore Jaret LaCagnina. Smutzer faced just one batter over his minimum while striking out two, and LaCagnina tossed just six pitches for two quick outs in a jam.
The dramatics came rapidly for the 'Cats, who began the ninth trailing by three. Three straight singles from Lebek, Bazin, and Frey presented trouble, as Lebek crossed home on Frey's gap single through the right side. With two men on, sophomore Ward Coleman executed a perfect bunt, reaching on a single to load the bases. Johnson worked a five-pitch walk to bring home Bazin and put the 'Cats down just one run.
With two outs and bases juiced, enter Jones, who battled a full-count before slicing a ball towards third base. The Rams tried to make the play at first as Coleman scored to tie the game, but a hurried misplay at first resulted in Jones reaching via error and freshman Alex Mardiney, who pinch-ran for Frey, to score the game winner.
VCU took the lead early, scoring five times in the third, all coming on one out. The 'Cats cut the lead the bottom of that frame, as Born launched a leadoff solo shot and Acosta singled then scored via a Jones double.
The Rams plated two more runs in the fourth to intensify their lead, and then Davidson added two in the fifth to make it 7-4. VCU then scored a run in the sixth, and a double from Coleman followed by a lucky hit-off-the-pitcher up the middle for Johnson brought him home. In the seventh, Frey homered to continue the 'Cats clawing back, but the deficit looked grim after the Rams blasted a solo shot in the ninth to make it 9-6.
The 'Cats and Rams continue with the series Saturday, slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch. It will be Family Fun Day, with inflatables, food trucks, and the Bullpen Beer Garden sponsored by NoDA Brewing Company in Charlotte.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ashur, Andrew (1-0)
L: McCARTY, Mac (1-1)
Batting:
2B: CARPENTER, Steven 1
HR: LACEY, Mitchel 1
RBI: BEREZO, Daane 1 ; WITT, Paul 2 ; LACEY, Mitchel 2 ; CARPENTER, Steven 2
SH: BEREZO, Daane 2 ; WITT, Paul 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LAMB, Haiden 2 ; BROWN, Hogan 3 ; BEREZO, Daane 1 ; WITT, Paul 1 ; LACEY, Mitchel 2
SB: BEREZO, Daane 1
HBP: HIBBITS, Liam 1
Batting:
2B: Jones, Eric 1 ; Coleman, Ward 1
HR: Born, Andrew 1 ; Frey, Matt 1
RBI: Born, Andrew 1 ; Johnson, Cam 2 ; Jones, Eric 2 ; Centracchio, Brett 1 ; Frey, Matt 2
SF: Jones, Eric 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Born, Andrew 1 ; Johnson, Cam 1 ; Acosta, Alec 2 ; Lebek, Justin 1 ; Bazin, Max 1 ; Frey, Matt 1 ; Mardiney, Alex 1 ; Coleman, Ward 2
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
2
H
4
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
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