RICHMOND, VA. – Logan Farrar had just the second hit of the game for VCU, but his big bases-clearing triple gave VCU a three-run lead in the fourth inning as the Rams beat Longwood, 5-2, Tuesday night at The Diamond.
Farrar stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning when he promptly unloaded the bases and led the Rams past Longwood (11-10, 1-2 Big South). The junior center fielder for VCU hit a sinking liner to the left-center field gap that Longwood center fielder
Colton Konvicka dived after and just missed. Once the ball got by Knvicka three runs scored easily and gave VCU (13-7) a lead it would not relinquish.
The loss for Longwood forces a split in the home-and-home series between Longwood and the Rams with each team winning at home. The Lancers have lost three consecutive games since taking game one of a three-game set against No. 22 Coastal Carolina.
The Lancers put together several rallies early, but weren't able to push across a run until the fourth inning when
Carlos Garrido drove in Konvicka. Longwood put a man into scoring position each of the first four innings.
Longwood outhit VCU 10-to-6 in the loss. Four Lancers had multi-hit games at VCU, including Konvicka, who also scored both Longwood runs and stole third base.
Konvicka, Garrido, and
Brandon Harvell made up the bottom third of the order and each finished with 2-for-4 games at the plate. The bottom three hitters finished a combined 6-for-12 with both of Longwood's RBI.
Garrido had a clutch RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. The freshman catcher ripped a single back up the middle that drove in Konvicka and tied the game at one run each. Garrido has picked up three RBI in his last four games.
Senior captain
C.J. Roth also put together a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 against the Rams. Roth has reached base in 17 consecutive games.
Ryan Jones (0-1) took the loss for Longwood, tossing 1.2 innings of two-run ball. Jones allowed only one hit, but walked one batter, hit one batter with a pitch, and allowed two runners to reach ahead of Farrar's triple. Matt Jamer (2-1) picked up the win for VCU after allowing one run on two hits in 3.0 innings out of the bullpen. Sam Donko nailed down the save (8) by picking up the final six outs.
For Longwood,
Michael Catlin pitched well out of the bullpen. The junior left-hander spun 3.0 scoreless innings with just two baserunners allowed, one hit and one walk.
The Lancers last beat VCU in Richmond in the 2011 season, prior to Longwood joining the Big South.
The game against VCU was the fourth of 11 games on the season against teams from Virginia for Longwood. The Lancers fell to 2-2 on the season against in-state competition.
Longwood continues its current six-game stretch against teams from The Commonwealth when the Lancers welcome in Radford for a three-game series that begins Thursday. The Lancers host the Highlanders at 5 p.m. Thursday.
#GoWood
