FINAL: VCU 2 (1-4), Bucknell 3 (4-1) (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) – Ebbets Field at the Ripken 

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

BUCKNELL STARTERS: Smith (CF), Gingerelli (RF), Ogren (2B), Mayer (C), Rafferty (DH), Krentzman (1B), Pennington (LF), Powell (3B), Wasikowski (SS), Holtz (SP)

THE BASICS: Another late rally attempt in VCU's third and final game against Bucknell came up short, and the Rams ended up falling 3-2 to the Bison. Senior JoJo Howie went 5.1 innings while striking out seven and sophomore Matt Davis hit his first home run of the season and drove in both of VCU's runs in today's loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Offensively VCU got off to its best start of the weekend despite only putting up one run in the first few innings. The Rams were drawing walks and moving baserunners over left and right, and in the top of the second it came through when Davis hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored junior Jimmy Kerrigan. Prior to scoring the run, Kerrigan and freshman catcher Ryan Coale had executed a double steal to put both runners in scoring position.
• Howie was rolling in the first three innings, allowing just one base runner and striking out three Bison batters, including inning-ending K's in the first and third frames.
• Bucknell struck back in the bottom of the fourth; a one-out single was followed up by an RBI triple from Jon Mayer, who later scored on a fielder's choice that would make the score 2-1 in favor of the Bison.
• In the top of the fifth VCU responded when Davis led the inning off with a solo shot to left field that tied the game up at 2-2. The Rams made some noise with two outs, loading the bases on two walks and a single, however they were not able to capitalize on the opportunity and ended up leaving the inning with just the one run from Davis' dinger.
• That tie game held until the bottom of the sixth when a single from Joe Ogren of Bucknell drove in a run to make the score 3-2. Ogren drove in a run in all three games this weekend for the Bison.
• VCU once again made it interesting in the final inning of the day. Coale drew a walk and Davis was hit by a pitch to put two runners on; a fielder's choice moved both runners to second and third with two outs. Unfortunately the Rams were not able to drive in the tying run, and they ended up on the wrong side of a 3-2 decision against Bucknell.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• VCU's bullpen continued its strong start to the season thanks to senioe Daniel Concepcion. He threw 2.2 innings today in relief, striking out two and not surrendering any runs.

UP NEXT

• The Rams are scheduled to play a midweek game against the Maryland Terrapins this Tuesday, February 24 at 4 pm before hosting Pittsburgh this upcoming weekend for a three-game series.