FINAL: VCU 0 (1-1), Wake Forest 1 (2-1) (Winston-Salem, N.C.) – Gene Hooks Field

VCU STARTERS: Farrar (CF), Bunn (LF) Machin (SS), Dressler (1B), Hileman (DH), Acker (RF), Davis (3B), Haymaker (C), Mickelson (2B), Howie (SP)

WAKE FOREST STARTERS: Rodriguez (CF), Steel (SS), Mondou (2B), Craig (1B), Breazeale (C), Fairchild (RF), Conway (LF), Maronpot (DH), Napolitano (3B), Dunshee (SP)

THE BASICS: A ninth inning comeback attempt fell short Saturday night and the Rams fell to tournament-host Wake Forest 1-0. Senior JoJo Howie pitched six strong innings, allowing just the one run while striking out nine in his first start of the season. VCU's second scheduled game of the night was postponed until next weekend. Further information will  be provided when it is made available.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team got anything going offensively early on, with both starting pitchers beginning the game with four scoreless innings, surrendering just two walks and five hits during that time. Howie started off the game well, striking out the side in the first and punching out seven guys in his first four innings.
• To lead off the bottom of the fifth, Wake Forest's Stuart Fairchild launched a home run to left field to score the first run of the night.
• Wake Forest was threatening to score in the bottom of the sixth; after a two-out walk followed by a single, Fairchild singled to right field. Acker fielded the hit and fired a throw to home plate that nailed the runner trying to score from second, keeping the score at 1-0.
• Senior Matt Blanchard came in to relieve Howie in the bottom of the seventh. After plunking the first batter he faced, he forced the next guy to hit into a double play before ending the inning with a quick strikeout. On the night, Blanchard recorded two scoreless innings and three strikeouts, allowing just the one base runner.
• The top of the ninth started out well for the Rams, when Farrar ran out an infield single to start the frame off. Bunn stepped to the plate and beat out a perfectly executed bunt to put two men on with not outs. Machin was sent down on strikes, but not before a passed ball allowed Farrar and Bunn to both advance into scoring position. Dressler was then intentionally walked, loading the bases with one out and prompting Wake Forest's head coach Tom Walter to give his starter the hook.
• In the next VCU at-bat, Hileman grounded into a double play to end the game and send VCU home with a 1-0 loss.
• Sophomore Parker Dunshee was on the mound tonight for the Deamon Deacons. In his first collegiate start he rattled off eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out 10 before finding trouble in the top of the ninth.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Last season, 42% of Howie's strikeouts came by a called third strike. Tonight, three of his nine strikeout victims were sent down looking. The nine K's also tied a career-high for Howie.

UP NEXT

• VCU will face nationally-ranked Virginia this week before hosting Delaware next weekend in the Rams' home opener. Originally scheduled as a 3-game weekend series, there will be a fourth game added to the schedule after the third and final game of the Wake Forest Invitational was postponed. VCU was slotted to play against Delaware in that third game. An updated game time will be provided when it is announced.