Baseball Wins Thriller, Secures Crucial Series at VCU

Saturday, May 4

Richmond, VA

3 p.m.

George Washington University

26-22, 9-9

VCU

28-19, 10-7

George Washington

VCU

Sam Gates Home Run Celebration vs. Bryant

5/4/2024 8:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – After falling behind by three in the bottom of the eighth inning, the George Washington baseball team erupted for eight runs in the ninth to defeat VCU in the series rubber match, 11-6. The victory moves GW to 26-21 on the season and 9-9 in the tightly contested Atlantic 10 standings.

After keeping VCU off the scoreboard in the first, GW allowed the Rams to take an early lead with runs in the second and third innings. Michael Foltz, the Buff & Blue's starter in the contest, was making his first appearance since May 5^th at George Mason. Two runs would be all Foltz allowed as he settled in nicely for a solid outing. The Revolutionaries gave Foltz run support in the fourth when Robby Wacker tallied an RBI single to right field, scoring Ellis Schwartz and Brett Young to knot the game at two.

Foltz's day continued into the fourth and fifth innings as he kept the Rams off the scoreboard to preserve the tie. He was eventually pulled at the start of the sixth after tossing 91 pitches and striking out four batters. He allowed only two earned runs in the no-decision. After both teams went scoreless in the sixth, GW captured its first lead of the day with one run in the seventh. Steve DiTomaso delivered the run via a single through the left side to score McGwire Tuffy. However, the lead didn't last long as VCU tallied one run in the seventh and three more in the eighth to take a 6-3 advantage heading into the final frame.

Entering the ninth trailing by three, Alexander Wright was hit by a pitch to put one runner on for Tuffy. He proceeded to rip his second home run of the season over the right field wall to bring GW within one run at 6-5. One batter later, Conlon Walker recorded a pinch-hit double down the left field line to put the tying run in scoring position. That was all DiTomaso needed as the No. 3 hitter in GW history shot a double down the left field line to trade places with Walker and knot the game at six apiece.

GW wasn't done there, one batter later Brett Young tallied an RBI single to left field to score DiTomaso and give the Buff & Blue a 7-6 lead. Later in the inning, Tim Nicholson reached base on a fielding error by VCU's second baseman, scoring Schwartz and Young to push GW's lead to 9-6. Wright, who led off the ninth inning for GW, came up clutch again with his first home run of the season to cap GW's eight-run inning. GDUB tallied its eight runs on seven hits in the frame, the most runs GW has scored in a single inning this season.

Now sporting a five-run lead, Max Haug stepped onto the mound in the ninth inning and secured the victory for the Buff & Blue. Haug is credited with the win for GW, moving him to 3-1 on the season. He finished with 1.1 innings pitched and zero earned runs allowed. Owen Tappy is charged with the loss for VCU. He falls to 7-2 in 2024.

The Buff & Blue return to action on Wednesday for the team's final midweek game and final non-conference matchup of the season. The Revolutionaries travel to Charlottesville to face 11^th-rank Virginia at 1:00 p.m. Follow GWsports.com for updates on live coverage information.