Women’s, men’s tennis dominate early slate

ADAM CHEEK

Contributing Writer

Baseball finished off the week with a 3-1 record, beating the College of William & Mary, sweeping two games against West Virginia University and losing to Illinois University to improve to 3-4 on the young season.

Illinois proved to be the Rams’ toughest opponent, as VCU fell 7-4 on Sunday to the Fighting Illini in the last of three games in Conway, S. C. Both teams scored quickly, with a run apiece in the first inning. However, Illinois held VCU scoreless until the seventh, scoring four runs of their own to put the Rams down 5-1. VCU rebounded with three runners crossing the plate in the final three innings, but Illinois added two and took home a 7-4 victory.

VCU’s weekend series against West Virginia proved to be fruitful, as the Rams swept the Mountaineers in two games.

An 8-5 win on Saturday secured the sweep, as the Black and Gold offense struck early and often. Scoring in six of their eight innings, VCU’s offensive prowess shined Saturday night.

Sophomore infielder Paul Witt blasted a two-run shot into left field in the bottom of the sixth to cap a stellar day, with junior infielder Zac Ching adding three hits, three RBI, a run scored and a walk.

Senior infielder Mitchel Lacey reached on all five of his plate appearances, going three-for-three and also recording a walk and hit by pitch, while junior pitcher/infielder Mac McCarty recorded his third save in as many games.

The second game against West Virginia was an extra-inning thriller on Friday morning. The Black and Gold came out victorious 6-2 in South Carolina. Freshman utility player Hogan Brown was the standout star of the game, going three-for-five while doubling twice and scoring.

Lacey and senior outfielder Haiden Lamb each added two hits

The game remained scoreless until the sixth, when Lamb laced a single to the right side and scored Brown. The Mountaineers tied the game at 2-2 on a bases-loaded single after VCU padded their lead with another run, but the Black and Gold shut down West Virginia for the re mainder of the inning and game. After missing a scoring chance in the 10th, VCU exploded in the 11th inning, as sophomore infielder Brett Willett doubled off the left field wall, scoring fellow sophomore in fielders Steven Carpenter and Witt. After the Rams added two more, Wilks and McCarty sealed the win for the Black and Gold in the bot tom of the inning.

The Rams edged out a 4-3 win over William & Mary on Tuesday in Williamsburg, as sophomore Connor Gillispie recorded his first win of the year. Willett, senior in fielder Daane Berezo, and Ching each contributed two hits, while freshman Liam Hibbits rocketed a double into right-center to score Ching. This fourth run of the game proved to be the difference maker, as VCU led 4-2 going into the ninth.

After a scoreless inning for the Black and Gold at the plate, the Tribe threatened by plating a run, only to be shut down with the tying run in scoring position.

The Black and Gold finally commence their 2017-18 home schedule when they take on the University of Maryland, College Park at the Diamond Wednesday at 3 p.m. Results of Sunday’s 7 p.m. matchup with Coastal Carolina University were not final in time for publication.

JESSICA WETZLER Staff Writer

Men’s and women’s tennis each finished the week perfect after a trio of victories pushed their records to 7-2 and 8-2, respectively.

Women v. Howard

Women’s tennis breezed through its midweek match against Howard University, going into the weekend winning 7-0 without dropping a set and losing just 10 games across seven matches on Feb. 22.

After a Howard default at No. 3 doubles, junior Anna Rasmussen and freshman Melissa Ifidzhen, the reigning Atlantic 10

Co-Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, clinched the doubles point with a 6-1 victory over Nathalie Finch and Nicole Hutchinson. This was the sixth victory in a row for the duo, and the 11th of the season —

Playing her first match at No. 1 singles this season, freshman Paola Exposito Diaz Delgado continued the VCU lead to 3-0 with a straight set victory over Ifidzhen clinched the match for the Black and Gold with a win at No. 3 singles, defeating Christina Joynes 6-0, VCU rounded out the sweep with wins by sophomore Noumea Witmus in No. 2 singles match and freshmen Marina Alcaide Bakari and Sofia Sualehe in No. 2

The women traveled to the University of Maryland, College Park Feb. 24. Down 3-1, VCU rallied to win the final three singles matches of the day and beat the Terrapins 4-3 on the road on Saturday afternoon.

After VCU dropped the doubles point, Ifidzhen got the Rams on the board and moving with a win at No. 4 singles, defeating Kate Yemelyanenka 6-2, 6-2.

The Terrapins stretched the lead 3-1 with wins at No. 2 and No. 6 singles. VCU won the next three matches to complete the comeback win. Rasmussen defeated Eva Alexandrova, who is ranked No. 81 in the country, at No. 1 singles 6-3, 7-6. Freshman Marina Alcaide Bakari topped Millie Stretton 7-6, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.

Witmus was the only Ram to win at both doubles and singles, defeating Anastasiia Gevel at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 7-6 to clinch the match for VCU. This is the third school from a power five conference that VCU has defeated this season. Earlier in February, the Rams beat the the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University on consecutive days. All three wins came on the road and VCU now holds a 4-0 road record this season.

Men’s tennis also flew through their afternoon match against The George Washington University on Feb. 24, collecting their second Atlantic 10 win of the season.

After a default by George Washington at No. 3 doubles, junior Arvid Noren and sophomore Javier Amantegui captured the doubles point for VCU with a 6-4 win over Chris Fletcher and Christos Hadjigeorgiou. They lead the team with eight doubles wins this season.

Another George Washington default at the No. 6 singles pushed the VCU lead to 2-0.

Freshman Inigo Torre Martin continued his strong form, collecting his tenth win of the season by defeating Amian Sahoo 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5 singles.

Amantegui clinched the match for the Rams by taking down Hadjigeorgiou in straight sets at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-2.

Victories by Noren and juniors Victor Lima and Philip Mobius in No. 1 doubles rounded out the 7-0 win.

The women will travel to Huntington, West Virginia, next weekend to take on the University of Cincinnati and Marshall University on March 3 and 4. The men’s team fell to Penn State University 5-0 at Thalhimer Tennis Center Sunday, and return to action Friday at 2 p.m. when they host Saint Louis University.