FINAL/10: VCU 3 (3-5), Pittsburgh 2 (3-6) (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) – Ebbets Field at the Ripken Experience

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

PITTSBURGH STARTERS: Wright (RF), LeBlanc (SS), Frabasilio (2B), Kowalczyk (DH), Parry (3B), Maldonado (LF), Schnurbusch (CF), Pazos (C), Hess (1B), Berube (SP)

THE BASICS: VCU earned it's first series victory of the 2015 season with a 3-2 extra innings win over Pittsburgh on Sunday. Junior Cooper Mickelson's single to right field drove in the eventual game-winning run to seal the series for the Rams. Senior JoJo Howie went six strong innings for VCU, striking out four and allowing two earned runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• VCU was able to go through the first inning unscathed, the first time that had happened all series. This allowed the Rams to get on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth inning one an RBI single from Shane Dressler. His hard-hit grounder to first base found its way into right field and allowed Logan Farrar to score easily.
• They'd strike again in the top of the sixth inning. James Bunn reached on a throwing error by the Pittsburgh shortstop, then eventually reached third base on a throwing error from the pitcher. Vimael Machin roped a single through the left side that scored Bunn easily and made the score 2-0. 
• The bottom half of the frame featured Pittsburgh flexing its muscles a bit at the plate. A solo shot to left field, followed by a triple, follwed then by a deep sacrifice fly tied the game up at 2-2. This became the third straight game that VCU surrendered a home run.
• The Rams went 1-2-3 in their next two innings, but appeared to have the makings of a big inning in the top of the ninth with a man on and the middle of the lineup scheduled to hit. A caught stealing cleared the bases, though, and VCU into the bottom of the ninth still tied up at 2-2.
• In the top of the 10th, Matt Davis reached on a single to center field and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Mickelson stepped up to the plate and ripped a two-out base hit into right field that scored Davis and put the Rams ahead 3-2.
• Not ones to shy away from exciting finishes, the Rams allowed Pittsburgh to get runner in scoring position in the bottom half of the 10th. A double from Caleb Parry preceded a hit batter, and both players advanced up a base on a passed ball. The Panthers had runners on second and third with two outs, but Matt Lees got Aaron Schnurbusch to fly out to left field and end the game with a final score of 3-2.

QUOTABLE

• "It was great to get a series win, and to win two games in extra innings shows a lot of fight from the guys and we're really excited about that. Really it was the pitching and defense all weekend. We pitched ahead in the count all weekend and the starting pitching gave us quality starts in all three games, but the bullpen was really fabulous all weekend. To be able to go to Matt Lees late in the game on a Sunday was really nice to have as an option." -Coach Shawn Stiffler
• "The guys never stopped grinding out their at-bats. I'm really excited for Cooper Mickelson who was able to knock in that go-ahead run; he had swung the bat well all day and he competed hard in every at-bat. Lastly I'm really proud of the way we played out in the field, just two errors all weekend and 

UP NEXT

• The Rams have a Tuesday matchup with the North Carolina Tar Heels down in Chapel Hill at 4 PM, followed by a weekend road series against Jacksonville University.