WILMINGTON, NC -- Virginia Commonwealth University scored six times in the top of the 13th inning to break a 4-4 deadlock on its way to a 10-4 victory over the University of Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game on Saturday afternoon.

The 13-inning contest was the longest game in CAA tournament history.

VCU relief ace Luke Pisker pitched seven innings of scoreless relief and John Leonard and Sergio Miranda each had four hits for the Rams (37-21). Alex Buchholz (right) and Bryan Hagerich each had three hits for the Blue Hens. VCU captured its second league crown in three years.

Miranda led off the game with a single through the right side, but two pitches later was picked off of first base by Delaware catcher Ryan Engelhardt. Blue Hen starter Matt Heppner then retired the next two batters to end the inning.

In the bottom of the first, Alex Buchholz laced a two-out triple to center. Ram starter Cody Eppley then struck out Hagerich to end the inning. The Hens, who went 10-23 with runners on base in their first round win over George Mason, had gone 9-51 in three games since, and Eppley continued Delaware’s frustration.

VCU came right back with back-to-back base hits to lead off the second. Barret Ripley’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out. Trai Harris’ groundout to first base scored Leonard to score the first run of the game.

Delaware (32-21) took the lead in the bottom of the third. With runners on second and third and only one out, Eppely struck out Brandon Menchaca for the second out, but Buchholz then launched a ball to deep centerfield that bounced off the top of the wall and landed on the other side for a three-run homer to give the Hens a 3-1 lead.

With two outs in the fourth, the Hens mounted a rally on VCU reliever Mick Mattaliano. Engelhardt singled and then moved to third on Kyle Davis’ first hit of the tournament. However, Mattaliano got Ryan Jablonski to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

In the fifth the Hens extended their lead with yet another two out rally. After the first two batters were retired, Hagerich lined a single up the middle and then moved to third on a hard single off the glove of Ram third baseman Chris Jackson. Bill Merkler then hit a ball through the leftside to give the Hens a 4-1 lead.

The Rams put two runners on with two outs in the top of the sixth. Leonard singled through the left side to make it a 4-2 game and put runners on first and third. Jackson then chopped a ball deep to the hole at short and Buchholz strong throw beat Jackson’s head first dive into first to end the inning.

The Rams tied the game in the top of the seventh. After putting their first two runners on base with consecutive singles, Carlos Rodriguez’ sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out. Heppner was then replaced by Billy Harris, and Richard Gonzalez greeted him with a single down the third base line to score the tying runs. However, Gonzalez was gunned out at second trying to stretch his hit into a double.

In the bottom of the seventh Hagerich got a one out base hit and stole second after the second out was recorded. Merkler then inadvertantly hit a check-swing pitch back at Pisker, who took it to first himself to end the inning.

The Hens had a baserunner in the bottom of the ninth, but Pisker struck out Buchholz on three pitches and then Hagerich flew out to right to end the inning.

After no runners reached base for either team in the tenth, Jared Bolden led off the 11th for VCU with a bunt single to the right side. Harris then struck out Leonard and picked off Bolden before Jackson flew out to right to end the inning.

Harris was relieved by David Slovak in the top of the 13th, and Slovak hit Miranda on a 1-2 pitch. Pinch-hitter M.L. Morgan, sent up to bunt, was walked by Slovak on five pitches to put two runners on with no outs. Slovak then bobbled Bolden’s bunt attempt, loading the bases with no outs. Leonard singled up the middle through the drawn in infield scoring two runs, and Menchaca’s throw home sailed high, allowing the runners to advance to second and third with no outs. Jackson’s sacrifice fly advanced both base runners, and the Rams led 7-4. Trai Harris then doubled to right center, scoring one more and giving the Rams an 8-4 lead to chase Slovak from the game. Rodriguez singled through the drawn in infield, scoring two more runs. The Rams scored six runs on four hits, two errors, a sac bunt, a sac fly, two walks and a hit batter.

Pisker put down the Hens in order in the 13th, setting off the celebration for the Rams.

At the tournament’s conclusion, Leonard was named the Tournament MVP. He was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Bolden, Mattaliano, Miranda and Pisker, ODU’s Dan Hudson, and Delaware’s Buchholz, Harris, Jablonski and Mike McGuire.

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