RICHMOND, Va. – The Towson University baseball team scored six runs in the final two innings, including a four-run rally in the ninth, but came up short in a 14-9 defeat at VCU in the series opener.
 
Eight different Tigers crossed home plate as Towson (1-11) had its late inning surge, but VCU's (7-6) early lead after five innings proved enough in the end.
 
Key Stats:

• Four Tigers multi-hit in the game as Towson mustered up 12 hits to VCU's 13.  Nolan Young hit 2-for-4 with three RBI and a walk.  Brandon Austin hit safely in his first two at-bats, going 2-for-4 with a double, a run, an RBI and a walk.  Billy Godrick was 2-for-5 with a run and stolen base while Danny Becerra was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
• On the pitching end, starter Josh Seils (1-3) got the loss, having 10 runs and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.  Kody Reeser and Andalo Santangelo each had scoreless bullpen outings and two strikeouts each, going 1.2 innings and one frame respectively.
• For VCU, Tyler Locklear hit two home runs in a 2-for-4 day, driving in four runs.  Reliever Evan Chenier (2-0) got the victory with three runs in 3.1 innings.

How It Happened:

• Josh Seils pitched a scoreless first inning, but in the second, VCU began the inning with the bases full.  Connor Hujsak brought in a run on an RBI groundout, then a two-run single by Hogan Brown made it 3-0 VCU.
• Towson countered in the next half-inning.  The Tigers loaded the bases up with one away.  Brandon Austin got all runners up a station on an RBI single to right, then Nick Brown drew a walk for another run.  Nolan Young tied the game up with an RBI single to the right-center gap, making the score 3-3.
• The home team got the lead back in the bottom of the third off a Tyler Locklear solo home run.  The Rams added four more on three consecutive two-out RBI hits, then another two later in the inning, to lead 10-3.
• VCU added three more off a second Locklear home run in the fifth.  Kody Reeser and Andalo Santangelo held down VCU to the eighth as Towson looked to rally.  Loading the bases with two out, Young knocked a single to left to bring in a pair and pull Towson to within eight.
• VCU added an RBI single in the eighth to go up nine.
• Towson's reserves put together a final rally in the top of the ninth with two out.  With two on, Nate Mills belted a ball over the centerfielder's head for a double and a run driven in.  Another run came in on a wild pitch, then Towson again got the bases loaded, with an error at short bringing in two more.  But a pop out ended the inning with four Towson runs as VCU took the win 14-9.

Inside the Numbers:

• With a double to leadoff the second, Brandon Austin increased his bases reached streak to 19 games.  Danny Becerra has reached base in all 12 games this season.
• Nate Mills earned his first collegiate hit with an RBI double to center in the ninth.

Next Game:
Towson returns to The Diamond tomorrow at 2 p.m. for the next game against VCU.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, available via subscription.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –