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Feb. 28, 2001

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Sophomore first baseman Danny Lopaze (Lakeridge,Va./Potomac) went four-for-six with three runs batted in and stroked an RBIsingle with one out in the eleventh inning which lifted VirginiaCommonwealth to a 7-6 baseball victory over in-state rival VirginiaWednesday afternoon at The Diamond.

Junior center fielder Matt Davis (Colonial Heights, Va./ThomasDale) led off the Rams’ half of the eleventh off Cavaliers’ lefthander GregHansard (1-1) with a single down the left field line and advanced to secondon a sacrifice by junior second baseman Chris Gerrity (Midlothian,Va./Midlothian). After an intentional walk to junior shortstop JoshuaArteaga (Homestead, Fla./Motlow St. CC), Lopaze lined a shot off the gloveoff UVa shortstop Hunter Wyant to score Davis with the winning run. Thewin improved VCU to 5-5 on the year and marked the eighth straight time theRams have won at The Diamond, including last season.

VCU trailed the Cavaliers (5-3) 6-5 before scoring once in thebottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Davis opened the inning with asingle and again moved to second on a Gerrity sacrifice. Arteaga followedwith a base hit to put runners on first and third, and Lopaze greetedHansard with with a single to right to tie the game.

Junior Davy Martin (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) picked up thevictory with 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief and teamed with freshman SeanMarshall (Chesterfield, Va./Manchester) and senior Chad Baumann(Lanesville, Ind./Floyd Central) to hold the Cavaliers scoreless over thefinal five frames after Virginia took a 6-5 lead with two runs in the topof the sixth inning.

Sophomore Doug Froman led the Cavaliers at the plate with fourhits, three runs scored and a pair of RBI, while Chris Sweet collectedthree hits in five at-bats in the loss.

VCU continues its homestand with a three-game set against FairleighDickinson this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturdaybeginning at 1 p.m, and conclude the series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.Virginia will travel to Liberty tomorrow afternoon.

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