Keydets Drop Home Finale to VCU, 7-2

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Keydets Drop Home Finale to VCU, 7-2

LEXINGTON, Va. – Despite single RBI's from Chase Worthington and Jacob Morley in the final game for each at Gray-Minor Stadium, the VCU Rams defeated the VMI Keydets, 7-2, in baseball action Thursday night in Lexington, Va.

Morley drove in a sixth-inning run with a groundout, and Worthington had a RBI single in the seventh, but those runs came after VMI (15-35) already trailed 4-0. After leading 1-0 early, VCU (31-22) scored three in the sixth to pull away, and then thwarted the Keydet rally with two in the eighth and one in the ninth against the VMI bullpen.

Jeremy Brown (1-6) took the loss for the Keydets, as he was charged with four runs over 5 1/3 innings. Seth Cutler-Voltz (6-3) beat VMI for the second time this season, allowing just one run over six innings. Matt Lees allowed a run in the seventh, but picked up his second save by throwing the final three frames.

Brown retired VCU in order in the first, and the Keydets threatened in the bottom half. With one out, Piccirilli singled and one out later, Cameron Walter singled as well. Cutler-Voltz got out of trouble, however, by striking out Nick Dwyer to end the inning.

The Rams would then take the lead in the third, when catcher Taylor Perkins hit his first home run of the year, a drive over the left field wall to put VCU up, 1-0. The visitors nearly added to that one run, but Brown induced ground balls from Jordan Weymouth and Joey Cujas with a runner at second and just one out, retiring the side.

The starters then settled in, as over the next 2 ½ innings, the teams combined for just one hit. That changed in the VCU sixth, when Cujas was hit by a pitch with one out. Taylor Buran then singled to left, a sharp grounder that was misplayed by left fielder Brandon Angus once it reached the outfield. Both runners were able to take an extra base on the play, and the next batter, Chris Ayers, drove them both home with a single to make it 3-0, VCU. Brent Mikionis added a RBI single against reliever Michael Devine later in the inning, pushing the margin to 4-0.

The Keydets cut into that deficit in the bottom half, as Piccirilli hit a shot off the left-field wall for a one-out double. He then went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground out by Morley, making it a 4-1 contest. VMI scored again in the seventh, as Angus doubled with two out and scored on Worthington's RBI single, but VCU got those two runs back in the eighth. Sacrifice flies by Mikionis and Paul Nice put the Rams up, 6-2, and a ninth-inning RBI double by Cujas accounted for the final margin.

George Piccirilli, also playing his final home game for the Keydets, went 2 for 4 with a double and scored a run to lead VMI. Vimael Machin had three hits to pace the Rams.

VMI baseball will close out its 2012 season Friday, playing two games at The Diamond in Richmond. The Keydets will face the East Carolina Pirates at 2 p.m., and are set to face these same VCU Rams at 6 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Brandon Angus

#39 Brandon Angus

OF
6' 0"
Freshman
R/R
Jeremy Brown

#3 Jeremy Brown

RHP
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Michael Devine

#25 Michael Devine

RHP
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Nick Dwyer

#16 Nick Dwyer

IF
6' 0"
Freshman
R/R
Jacob Morley

#6 Jacob Morley

OF
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
George Piccirilli

#27 George Piccirilli

1B
5' 10"
Senior
R/R
Cameron Walter

#37 Cameron Walter

IF
6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Chase Worthington

#7 Chase Worthington

IF
5' 11"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Brandon Angus

#39 Brandon Angus

6' 0"
Freshman
R/R
OF
Jeremy Brown

#3 Jeremy Brown

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
RHP
Michael Devine

#25 Michael Devine

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Nick Dwyer

#16 Nick Dwyer

6' 0"
Freshman
R/R
IF
Jacob Morley

#6 Jacob Morley

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
OF
George Piccirilli

#27 George Piccirilli

5' 10"
Senior
R/R
1B
Cameron Walter

#37 Cameron Walter

6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
IF
Chase Worthington

#7 Chase Worthington

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
IF