Friday, May 26
1:00 p.m.
Davidson College Athletics
29-24
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Virginia Commonwealth University
35-20
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VCU
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Davidson
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Photo by: Bill Barrett/ Atlantic 10 Conference
Dramatics Deliver 'Cats into Second Straight A-10 Title Game
5/26/2017 4:04:00 PM | Baseball
DavidsonPhotos.com
Box Score (Game 1) (PDF)
Box Score (Game 2) (PDF)
A-10 Recap (Game 2)
ASN Affiliates
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- For the second consecutive year, Davidson baseball, as the six seed, will play for an Atlantic 10 Championship after a dramatic victory in the consolation final Friday evening, downing fifth-seeded Saint Louis 8-7 in ten innings at the Billikens Sports Complex.
The 'Cats, who fell into the loser's bracket after a tough 7-3 loss to top-seeded VCU earlier in the day, improved to 30-24 on the season, setting the school record for most wins in a season. It was also a milestone victory for head coach Dick Cooke, who recorded his 550th win.
Highlights from the day include senior Will Robertson tying the single-season home run record (Tim Kearns '93), junior Alec Acosta blasting his third long ball of the tournament (and year) in Game 1, sophomore Eric Jones tallying four straight hits in Game 2 where he reached base six times, senior Brian Fortier with the two-RBI single to tie things up in Game 2, and senior Durin O'Linger, entering from the bullpen for his first relief appearance of the year, also in the finale, where he faced just one over the minimum and collected six straight strikeouts to lift the 'Cats to victory.
Davidson will rematch VCU Saturday, and will need to defeat the Rams twice to secure their first-ever A-10 title. The game will be televised on American Sports Network, while local affiliates can be found in the link provided.
GAME 1: #1 SEED VCU 7, #6 SEED DAVIDSON 3
Davidson led for seven frames before a troubling eighth allowed the Rams to overcome the deficit. The 'Cats again found their magic in the first inning as they have of late, after junior Cam Johnson walked and Acosta sent the ball sailing over left field for the third time in as many games.
VCU cut the lead in half in the following frame, and the 'Cats added cushion in the seventh, after freshman Brett Centracchio ripped a single up the middle, and sophomore Max Bazin doubled him home.
The Rams then took advantage of a couple walks, a gust of wind, and a Wildcat miscue to plate five runs in the eighth to take control of the game.
Sophomore Allen Barry, in his first start since returning from injury and missing the majority of the 2017 campaign, delivered outstandingly. He went six innings while striking out three.
GAME 2: #6 SEED DAVIDSON 8, #5 SEED SAINT LOUIS 7
The "cardiac" 'Cats rallied from down four to force extra innings (their fourth time in the last nine games) and win the elimination game 8-7 to stay alive.
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening frame, Jones worked a leadoff walk and then scored, courtesy of a double from classmate Justin Lebek, to get Davidson on the board. After a solo shot from Robertson (his 17th of the year), the sophomore duo repeated the process, after Jones reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on a wild pitch, and Lebek ripped the ball back up the middle to tie the game for the first time.
The Billikens quickly regained the edge with insurance courtesy of a three-run homer from All-Conference designated hitter Devin Mahoney. SLU then added a run in the following frame off a single and double.
Down 7-3, the Wildcats looked to threaten, leaving bases loaded in the sixth, but finally started chipping away at the lead, when Acosta, who had earlier singled, moved up on Jones' hard gapper through the left side, and then took home on a failed pickoff attempt.
In the eighth, Bazin reached on a Billiken error, getting all the way to second. Cam Johnson then walked (one of five walks on the day for him), and a wild pitch moved both up. Robertson also worked a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Another wild pitch allowed Bazin to score to bring the deficit to 7-5. Enter Fortier, who tattooed the ball back up the middle to plate Johnson and Robertson and tie the game once more. Unable to bring any more runs across, as bases were left loaded for the second time, the 'Cats forced extras.
Acosta walked to begin the 10th, moving to second on yet another failed pickoff attempt. Jones then hit a screamer towards right center that he nearly made into a triple, to bring Acosta home for ultimately, the game-winning run.
After throwing 8.1 innings of dynamic baseball on Wednesday in the 'Cats opening win, O'Linger made his first relief appearance of the year, throwing lights out. After getting through the eighth quickly, the veteran whiffed six straight Billikens to earn his 8th win of the year and propel the 'Cats into the title game.
Sophomore Casey Sutherland also played a critical role in the victory, tossing four scoreless innings of relief.
Box Score (Game 1) (PDF)
Box Score (Game 2) (PDF)
A-10 Recap (Game 2)
ASN Affiliates
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- For the second consecutive year, Davidson baseball, as the six seed, will play for an Atlantic 10 Championship after a dramatic victory in the consolation final Friday evening, downing fifth-seeded Saint Louis 8-7 in ten innings at the Billikens Sports Complex.
The 'Cats, who fell into the loser's bracket after a tough 7-3 loss to top-seeded VCU earlier in the day, improved to 30-24 on the season, setting the school record for most wins in a season. It was also a milestone victory for head coach Dick Cooke, who recorded his 550th win.
Highlights from the day include senior Will Robertson tying the single-season home run record (Tim Kearns '93), junior Alec Acosta blasting his third long ball of the tournament (and year) in Game 1, sophomore Eric Jones tallying four straight hits in Game 2 where he reached base six times, senior Brian Fortier with the two-RBI single to tie things up in Game 2, and senior Durin O'Linger, entering from the bullpen for his first relief appearance of the year, also in the finale, where he faced just one over the minimum and collected six straight strikeouts to lift the 'Cats to victory.
Davidson will rematch VCU Saturday, and will need to defeat the Rams twice to secure their first-ever A-10 title. The game will be televised on American Sports Network, while local affiliates can be found in the link provided.
GAME 1: #1 SEED VCU 7, #6 SEED DAVIDSON 3
Davidson led for seven frames before a troubling eighth allowed the Rams to overcome the deficit. The 'Cats again found their magic in the first inning as they have of late, after junior Cam Johnson walked and Acosta sent the ball sailing over left field for the third time in as many games.
VCU cut the lead in half in the following frame, and the 'Cats added cushion in the seventh, after freshman Brett Centracchio ripped a single up the middle, and sophomore Max Bazin doubled him home.
The Rams then took advantage of a couple walks, a gust of wind, and a Wildcat miscue to plate five runs in the eighth to take control of the game.
Sophomore Allen Barry, in his first start since returning from injury and missing the majority of the 2017 campaign, delivered outstandingly. He went six innings while striking out three.
GAME 2: #6 SEED DAVIDSON 8, #5 SEED SAINT LOUIS 7
The "cardiac" 'Cats rallied from down four to force extra innings (their fourth time in the last nine games) and win the elimination game 8-7 to stay alive.
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening frame, Jones worked a leadoff walk and then scored, courtesy of a double from classmate Justin Lebek, to get Davidson on the board. After a solo shot from Robertson (his 17th of the year), the sophomore duo repeated the process, after Jones reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on a wild pitch, and Lebek ripped the ball back up the middle to tie the game for the first time.
The Billikens quickly regained the edge with insurance courtesy of a three-run homer from All-Conference designated hitter Devin Mahoney. SLU then added a run in the following frame off a single and double.
Down 7-3, the Wildcats looked to threaten, leaving bases loaded in the sixth, but finally started chipping away at the lead, when Acosta, who had earlier singled, moved up on Jones' hard gapper through the left side, and then took home on a failed pickoff attempt.
In the eighth, Bazin reached on a Billiken error, getting all the way to second. Cam Johnson then walked (one of five walks on the day for him), and a wild pitch moved both up. Robertson also worked a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Another wild pitch allowed Bazin to score to bring the deficit to 7-5. Enter Fortier, who tattooed the ball back up the middle to plate Johnson and Robertson and tie the game once more. Unable to bring any more runs across, as bases were left loaded for the second time, the 'Cats forced extras.
Acosta walked to begin the 10th, moving to second on yet another failed pickoff attempt. Jones then hit a screamer towards right center that he nearly made into a triple, to bring Acosta home for ultimately, the game-winning run.
After throwing 8.1 innings of dynamic baseball on Wednesday in the 'Cats opening win, O'Linger made his first relief appearance of the year, throwing lights out. After getting through the eighth quickly, the veteran whiffed six straight Billikens to earn his 8th win of the year and propel the 'Cats into the title game.
Sophomore Casey Sutherland also played a critical role in the victory, tossing four scoreless innings of relief.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DUM, Benjamin (3-1)
L: Leonard, Austin (1-2)
S: DONKO, Sam (14)
Batting:
2B: ISQUIRDO, Dylan 1
RBI: FARRAR, Logan 3 ; WITT, Paul 1 ; CHING, Zac 1 ; ISQUIRDO, Dylan 1
SH: BEREZO, Daane 1 ; LACEY, Mitchel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FARRAR, Logan 1 ; CARPENTER, Darian 1 ; WILLETT, Brett 1 ; CHING, Zac 3 ; ISQUIRDO, Dylan 1
CS: GRANSBACK, Alex 1
HBP: FARRAR, Logan 1 ; CARPENTER, Darian 1 ; LACEY, Mitchel 1
Batting:
2B: Bazin, Max 1
HR: Acosta, Alec 1
RBI: Acosta, Alec 2 ; Bazin, Max 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Cam 1 ; Acosta, Alec 1 ; Centracchio, Brett 1
HBP: Fortier, Brian 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C/INF
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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