FARMVILLE, Va. – Backed by a pair of three-RBI days from Liam Hibbits and Alex Taylor and a shutdown performance from the bullpen, Atlantic 10 frontrunner VCU cruised to a 12-6 win over Longwood in a midweek Commonwealth clash Wednesday evening at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
Hibbits powered the Rams (22-7) from the middle of the lineup, tagging a two-run double in the third inning and an RBI single in the fourth to power VCU to its eighth win in the past nine games. Taylor added three RBI and reached base in all four plate appearances from the nine-spot, and VCU used three relievers to hold Longwood scoreless over the final six innings.
That performance was enough to overcome an offensive onslaught from the middle of Longwood's lineup, as the 3-4-5 combination of
Carlos Garrido,
Hunter Gilliam and
Nate Blakeney combined to drive in all six Longwood (7-21) runs. That damage came in the early innings, as Garrido laced an RBI double in the first, and Gilliam and Blakeney teamed up for a back-to-back three-run double and two-run homer during a five-run third inning.
However, the Rams quieted Longwood's bats after Gilliam and Blakeney's big swings, scattering four hits the rest of the way. VCU freshman Danny Watson (3-0) led that effort out of the bullpen, throwing 3.0 shutout innings in relief of starter Justin Sorokowski before fellow relievers Jaden Griffin and Sam Ryan closed out the final three frames.
VCU's arms pitched from several runs ahead beginning early in the game, as the Rams offense built a lead as large as 8-1 following a six-run third. Taylor started that rally with a leadoff single, and Hibbits and catcher Hunter Vay continued it with a pair of two-run doubles.
That momentum continued into the fourth when Hibbits tagged another RBI knock as part of a two-run inning that came in response to Longwood's five-run third.
After VCU built its lead back to 11-6 by the end of the fourth, Longwood's relief stepped up as the five-man stable of Pedro Astacio,
Josh Longabaugh,
Brayden Williamson,
Carter Strickland and
Bryan Golnick scattered just one run over the final four innings. Astacio, Longabaugh and Golnick all threw more than one inning of shutout ball, with Longabaugh and Golnick recording eight of the game's final nine outs without allowing a hit.
However, that bullpen help came too late, as Griffin and Ryan took over for Watson and allowed just two base runners over the final three frames.
The Lancers will now have one off-day to prepare for their next Big South series, which pits them against conference rival Charleston Southern this Friday through Sunday, April 5-7 at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
#GoWood
