TOWSON, Md. - Sophomore righthander Seth Cutler-Voltz pitched the first shutout of his career as he led Virginia Commonwealth University (16-14, 6-1) to a 10-0 victory over the Tigers (9-21, 5-5) in the opening game of their three-game Colonial Athletic Association weekend series at John B. Schuerholz Park on Friday afternoon.
While pitching a five-hitter, Cutler-Voltz shut out the Tigers, who were 5-0 at home and averaging more than 15 runs per game at Schuerholz Park. Cutler-Voltz became the first pitcher to shut out the Tigers at Schuerholz Park since March 3, 2007 when Albany blanked Towson, 4-0.
Cutler-Voltz held the Tigers to five hits while walking three and striking out seven. The VCU infield helped him pitch a shutout as the Rams turned two double plays behind him.
With the win, the CAA-leading Rams have won six of seven CAA contests this season. The victory also snapped the Tigers' four-game winning streak.
Freshman righthander Michael Trionfo of Towson and Cutler-Voltz both pitched well through the early innings as each of them threw three shutout innings.
In the top of the fourth inning of a scoreless game, Trionfo retired the first two VCU hitters he faced. However, sophomore first baseman Brent Mikionis gave VCU a 1-0 lead when he lined a solo home run through a strong wind and over the left field fence. It was his third home run of the season.
Cutler-Voltz held the Tigers without a hit through the first three innings. With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, senior rightfielder Kevin Collins delivered the Tigers' first hit of the game when he doubled down the right field line. It was the 200th career hit for Collins, who became the 13th player in Towson history to reach the milestone.
After Collins stole third base, junior second baseman Chris Wychock drew a walk to put runners at the corners with one out. However, freshman leftfielder Kurt Wertz grounded into a double play to end the inning as Cutler-Voltz preserved the Rams' 1-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Rams rallied for four runs and knocked Trionfo out of the game. Senior shortstop Doug Otto led off the inning with a single to centerfield. When junior third baseman Joe Van Meter blooped a single to right, the Rams had two runners on base. After junior rightfielder John Lenherr sacrificed the runners into scoring position, Trionfo hit Mikionis with a pitch on an 0-2 count to load the bases.
Sophomore leftfielder Paul Nice increased the lead to 2-0 when he singled to centerfield, scoring Otto.
After the single by Nice, sophomore righthander Sean Bertrand came out of the bullpen to relieve Trionfo. When Bertrand threw a wild pitch, Van Meter scored to put VCU up by 3-0. A walk to sophomore catcher Taylor Perkins loaded the bases again. Junior designated hitter Michael Cheatham gave the Rams a 5-0 advantage when he lined a two-run single to centerfield field. Bertrand escaped the inning without allowing any more runs when he got senior centerfielder M.L. Morgan to ground into a fielder's choice as first baseman Eric Weller threw out Perkins trying to score. Senior second baseman Richard Gonzalez grounded out to second base, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers made a strong bid to get back in the game. Sophomore catcher Brian Wyman led off with a single to left. When sophomore centerfielder Ben Winter singled to right, the Tigers had two runners on base with no outs. Cutler-Voltz struck out junior shortstop Nick Natoli for the first out before he walked Collins to load the bases. Wychock was retired on a fly ball to short rightfield before Miklionis made a great play at first base, robbing Wertz of an extra base hit. He tossed the ball to Cutler-Voltz who was covering first base for the third out.
VCU added to its lead in the seventh inning against Bertrand. Otto led off with a double down the left field line. Van Meter drove him home with a single to centerfield, giving VCU a 6-0 advantage. Lenherr gave the Rams a 7-0 lead when he doubled down the rightfield line and advanced to third base on an error by Collins in rightfield.
Freshman righthander Sean Thompson came out of the Tiger bullpen and struck out Miklionis for the first out. Nice upped the lead to 8-0 when he drove home Lenherr with a perfect bunt.
The Rams added two more insurance runs in the eighth inning. Cheatham led off the inning with a walk and he advanced to third base on a pair of wild pitches. A walk to Morgan gave the Rams runners at first and third with no outs. After Morgan stole second base, Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Cheatham. With two outs, Van Meter hit a ground rule double into the leftfield corner as Morgan scored to make it a 10-0 lead.
With a 10-0 lead, Cutler-Voltz cruised through the final two innings as he struck out three of the last seven batters he faced.
The Rams outhit Towson by a 13-5 margin. Van Meter and Cheatham had three hits each to lead VCU. Van Meter was three-for-five with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Cheatham went three-for-three and drove in two runs. Nice added two hits and had two RBI's while Otto had two hits and scored a pair of runs.
Collins had the Tigers' only extra base hit with his fourth inning double. Junior third baseman Austin Harclerode, junior designated hitter Steve Rice, Winter and Wyman each had a single.
Trionfo suffered the loss for the Tigers. In 5.1 innings, he allowed five runs on eight hits. He had one strikeout and did not walk anyone.
The Tigers and the Rams will meet in the second game of their three-game series on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Schuerholz Park.
