VCU dominates ODU

Kyle Haynes allowed one run in eight innings as Virginia Commonwealth University defeated Old Dominion University 13-1 Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at The Diamond.

The Rams improved to 4-4 in the CAA, 10-15 overall. The Monarchs dropped to 6-5 in league play, 13-15 overall.

Haynes scattered four hits and did not walk a batter. He posted seven strikeouts in raising his record to 4-3. Haynes was perfect through the first three innings before giving up a leadoff single in the fourth.

Bill Cullen and Chris Ayers both drove in three, while Cullen, Taylor Perkins and John Lenherr each had three hits for the Rams.

VCU started the scoring in the bottom of the second. Michael Cheatham drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout. With two away, Kyle Sutherland drew a base on balls. Paul Nice then delivered a double to plate Cheatham with the first run. Cullen rapped a single to bring home Sutherland and Nice, making the score 3-0.

There was a rain delay of 20 minutes in the middle of the third inning.

Following the delay, VCU added to its advantage in the bottom of the third. Perkins started the rally with a single to right. Lenherr reached on a bunt single to third, moving Perkins to second. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice by Joey Cujas. Cheatham was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ayers singled to short to plate Perkins and Lenherr came home on an errant throw to push the lead to 5-0.

The Rams tallied one in the fourth as Nice worked a leadoff walk, moved to second on a fielder’s choice, went to third on a base hit by Lenherr and came home on an errant throw to increase the lead to 6-0.

ODU dented home for the only time in the fifth as Nathan Hartman ripped a two-out double to right-center and scored on a single by Edgar Hernandez to make it a 6-1 contest. Hernandez finished with two hits for the Monarchs.

VCU put the game away with seven in the seventh. Perkins starting the rally with a double and capped the rally with a two-run two-bagger. Ayers also had a two-run double as VCU took a 13-1 lead.

Ben Tomchick (4-3) allowed seven hits and six runs (four earned) with four walks and two strikeouts in absorbing the loss for the Monarchs.