Vikings Fall, 6-5 In Series Opener At VCU
    Shaffer And Franks Both Went Two-For-Four At The Plate During Today's Game
    Ryan Franks went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run in today's game.

    Ryan Franks went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run in today's game.

    March 5, 2010

    Final Stats

    Contact: Renee Adam

    Richmond, Va. - Cleveland State was able to rally for four runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings fell, 6-5 at VCU in the first game of the weekend series at The Diamond this afternoon.

    "We were able to make a late come back in the game today, but it just wasn't enough to get over VCU," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "We are a very stubborn offensive ball club, we got shut down for seven innings and we didn't want to change anything that we were doing. We didn't take advantage of opportunities that we had on the base paths and with our runners."

    The Vikings are now 1-6 on the season and VCU improves to 5-3.

    For the fourth time this season the Vikings were able to get out to a quick start, taking a 1-0 lead after the second inning, with Jason Haditsch scoring early in the inning. Haditsch was able to get on base after getting hit by a pitch and scored after a Tom Carter sacrifice bunt and a VCU error.

    The Rams started their six-run come back, by putting up a three-run sixth inning, to take a 3-1 lead after a Gregory Fujji triple and a two-run Doug Otto homer.

    VCU added to their three runs with another three-run inning in the seventh, taking a 6-1 lead over the Vikings. With the bases loaded and two outs Richard Gonzalez singled to left field, driving in two Rams. VCU ended the inning after Fujji scored for the second time of the game off a CSU error.

    The Vikings answered with two runs of their own in the top of the eighth inning, bringing the game to within three, 6-3.

    Kyle Shaffer started the eighth inning hitting his third triple of the season, and went on to score after a Bob Suitca single to right field. Ryan Franks, who walked with a full count, scored the final run of the inning after Tyler Wynn grounded out to third base.

     

     

    CSU had a rally of their own in the top of the ninth, driving in two more runs. Alex Johnson got things started for the Vikings, scoring off a VCU error and Shaffer put the final run of the game on the board for the Vikings, after he was able to steal second base and reach third off a Ryan Franks bunt, with the Vikings coming up just short in the 6-5 decision.

    Anthony Sambula got his third start of the season, pitching 6 1/3 innings for the Vikings, striking out six and allowing five runs on five hits. Sambula (1-1) was also credited for the Viking loss.

    "Sambula threw a good enough game for us to win today, but our middle relief pitching is just not quite there for us yet," Kocks said. "Tomorrow we will come back with a different approach to our offense that will hopefully allow us to get things going against a very beatable VCU team."

    Blake Hauser (2-0) got the win for the Rams, pitching seven innings, striking out five batters and allowing just one run on two hits.

    The Vikings return to action tomorrow afternoon (Mar. 6) at 3:00 p.m. for the second game of the series against the VCU Rams.