FINAL (GAME 1): VCU 1 (1-2), Bucknell 5 (2-1) (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) -- Griffith Field at the Ripken Experience

FINAL (GAME 2): VCU 4 (1-3), Bucknell 6 (3-1) (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) -- Griffith Field at the Ripken Experience

VCU STARTERS GAME 1: Farrar (DH), Bunn (LF) Machin (SS), Dressler (1B), Kerrigan (CF), Acker (RF), Davis (3B), Haymaker (C), Mickelson (2B), Dwyer (SP)
VCU STARTERS GAME 2: Farrar (DH), Bunn (LF), Machin (SS), Carpenter (1B), Kerrigan (CF), Davis (3B), Gransback (RF), Haymaker (C), Mickelson (2B), Blanchard (SP)

BUCKNELL STARTERS GAME 1: Smith (CF), Gingerelli (RF), Ogren (2B), Mayer (C), Rafferty (LF), Krentzman (1B), Clark (3B), Pennington (CDH, Wasikowski (SS), Hough (SP)
BUCKNELL STARTERS GAME 2: Smith (CF), Gingerelli (RF), Ogren (2B), Mayer (C), Rafferty (LF), Austin (1B), Clark (3B), Powell (DH), Wasikowski (SS), Hammond (SP)

THE BASICS: Playing in Myrtle Beach, S.C. after winter weather pushed them out of Richmond, the Rams dropped both games of a double header against Bucknell on Saturday 5-1 and 6-4, respectively. Sophomore Logan Farrar and junior Waker Haymaker each lead the way offensively with three hits and junior Jimmy Kerrigan hit the first home run of his VCU career in today's games.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In game one, Bucknell got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning on a fielder's choice, then tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-0 lead. Those runs in the third came on just two hits, with the Bison taking advantage of a couple of walks and a passed ball.
• In the top of the fifth the Rams had a chance to get some of those runs back after a double from junior Cooper Mickelson put two runners in scoring position and Farrar drew a walk to load the bases. Unfortunately VCU was unable to capitalize and in the next inning Bucknell's Joe Ogren launched a solo shot to right field that gave his team a 5-0 lead.
• VCU did get one run back in the top of the eighth on a fielder's choice from Darian Carpenter in his first at bat of the season, but that would be the only run the Rams would be able to push across in game one. They would fall to Bucknell 5-1.
• Senior Thomas Gill and Freshman Sean Thompson made their first appearances of the season in relief of senior Heath Dwyer. Both relievers did not allow and earned run while striking out three batters in 3.2 innings.
• Game two started off similarly to game one with the Bison getting on the board first in the first inning. Ogren's RBI double put gave Bucknell and early 1-0 lead.
• Senior Matt Blanchard made his first start of the season and looked unhittable at times, as evidence by his 10 strikeouts in six innings. Between the third and fourth innings Blanchard struck out four consecutive Bison batters.
• Offense was hard to come by for VCU, with its first base hit of the game coming in the fourth inning on a single from junior James Bunn. He was able to advance to third after a fielder's choice and a passed ball, but the Rams were unable to bring him home.
• Bucknell broke the game open a bit by scoring three two-out runs in the top of the sixth inning, two of which came on a double from Sam Clark. VCU responded in the bottom half of the frame by scoring its first run of the game, but Bucknell came right back and scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh to make the score 5-1.
• In the top of the ninth, Bucknell was able to generate some two-out offense again, this time taking advantage of a VCU error and extending its lead to five.
• Not ones to back down, the Rams made a valiant comeback attempt in the bottom of the ninth. Senior Viamel Machin singled to start off the rally and he crossed the plate when Kerrigan blasted a two-run shot to left field, making the score 6-3. Sophomore Matt Davis then reached on an error and stole second, later scoring on a single from freshman Ryan Coale. While exciting, the late rally was not enough to overtake the Bucknell lead and a complete game effort from game two pitcher Xavier Hammond, and the Rams ended up dropping the second game 6-4.