RICHMOND, Va. – A six-run first inning for VCU built a deficit too large for the Lancers to recover from as Longwood dropped its midweek matchup, 12-2, Wednesday at The Diamond.
VCU (27-14), a squad that has won three straight and put together a 14-game winning streak in March, made the Lancers pay for an error and multiple walks in the first inning and continued to swing the bat well throughout the game. Longwood (13-26) managed some moments offensively against VCU, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with the Rams, who churned out 12 hits.
Grant Keller continued his hot month of April with the 13th and 14th hits in 12 games this month for the sophomore third baseman, who is hitting .400 in April. Keller went 2-4 Wednesday, upping his season average to .280 and extending his reached base streak to nine games.
On a designated staff day Hayden Moore (3-2) picked up the win for VCU. Moore held the Lancers scoreless in 2.0 innings out of the bullpen.
Zach Potojecki (1-2) took the loss for the Lancers, allowing five runs, four earned.
Out of the Lancer bullpen
Todd Moxey put together a scoreless outing, striking out a pair of batters with no hits allowed in 1.1 innings of work. Moxey,
Andrew Corbitt, and
John Gregory held VCU scoreless over their combined 3.0 innings of work.
Longwood took advantage of VCU mistakes to strike first.
Sammy Miller led off the game with a cue-shot that was hit to the first base side of the mound, but reached on an error when the pitcher bobbled the ball into foul territory. After Miller moved up on a ground out and advanced to third on a balk,
Justin Mitchell hit a drive to center field that brought in Miller on a sacrifice fly.
VCU took advantage of free passes issued by Longwood in the bottom of the first to strike back. After Haiden Lamb and Hogan Brown each reached on walks to start the frame the three hitter, Daane Berezo, put down a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error committed by the Lancers. Lamb was able to score from second on the play, knotting the game at one all. The inning continued with a double steal by Brown and Berezo with one out. Brown would score on a wild pitch on ball four to Mitchel Lacey and VCU scored again on a single back up the middle by Steven Carpenter, making it 3-1 VCU.
After a pitching change Josh Simon was hit by pitch to load the bases with one out and Liam Hibbits singled back up the middle, plating a pair of runs to up the VCU lead to 5-1 in the first inning. Zac Ching, the ninth to hit in the inning, flew out to right and brought in the sixth run of the frame on a sacrifice fly.
The Lancers used a patient approach at the plate to cut into the deficit in the top of the second. With one out
Ryan Shull worked a six-pitch walk and
Tyler Mahone followed by winning a 10-pitch battle to draw a second walk in the inning. After Shull and Mahone executed a double steal,
Scott Carter brought in a run on an RBI ground out to shortstop, making it 6-2.
From there VCU scored four runs in the third and two more in the fourth to up the advantage to 12-2.
Wednesday was the second career start for Mahone, the first behind the plate for the freshman catcher and first baseman. Mahone, who finished the game 0-for-1 with one walk, also threw out a man trying to steal second for his first career runner thrown out.
Miller finished the game 0-4, ending his season-best streak of 15 consecutive games reached safely. During his 15-game reached base streak Miller hit .469 (23-for-49) and posted an on-base percentage of .618.
Mitchell now owns the longest active streak with 11 consecutive games reached safely after drawing a walk. Miller's 15-game streak is tied with Mitchell for the longest by a Lancer this season.
Longwood returns to the field Friday to begin a three-game weekend set at in-state rival Liberty. First pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m.
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