CONWAY, S.C. — VCU broke through against reliever Conner Dotson for four runs in the 11th inning to beat West Virginia 6-2 on Friday in the opener of the Brittain Resorts Invitational.
Andrew Zitel’s game-tying two-run single in the sixth was the sum of the offense for the Mountaineers, who fell to 1-3 and dropped their third straight.
West Virginia collected 10 hits led by Ivan Gonzalez, Jimmy Galuskiy and Brandon White with two each.
Dotson (0-1) thwarted VCU’s first-and-third opportunity in the 10th, recording three outs on six pitches, including a squeeze bunt on which he threw home.
The Rams (2-3) used a single and a walk to set the stage in the 11th, before cleanup hitter Brett Willett doubled home two runs for a 4-2 lead. Mitchell Lacey followed with an RBI single to chase Dotson. Cody Wood came on to record a groundball out, but a throwing error by first baseman Alek Manoah scored VCU’s final run.
B.J. Myers produced a solid start for the Mountaineers, throwing 6 1/3 innings in which he allowed two runs on five hits and five strikeouts. He didn’t issue a walk but hit three batters.
The right-hander’s main trouble surfaced in the sixth when Haiden Lamb singled to make it 1-0. Myers plunked the ensuing batter before a double-steal moved Lamb into position to score on a groundout.
VCU pulled starter Sam Ryan after four scoreless innings, before Jack Alkire allowed two runs in the sixth. Braxton Wilks (1-0) pitched a scoreless 10th and Mac McCarty got the final two outs for his second save.