FINAL: VCU 0 (7-8), Monmouth 3 (1-9)

LOCATION: The Diamond – Richmond, Va.

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

MONMOUTH STARTERS: Wilgus (CF), Perry (C), Hughes (3B), Moreno (1B), Gaetano (RF), Shea (LF), Jacobson (DH), Lamberton (2B), Alessandrine (SS), Hunt (SP)

THE BASICS: After scoring 17 runs in their previous two games, the Rams were shutout today against Monmouth at home by a score of 3-0. VCU connected on just four hits all afternoon with two of them coming from Darian Carpenter. JoJo Howie took the mound today as the Rams' starter, going six innings while striking out three. Monmouth starter T.J. Hunt threw 6.2 shutout innings while just four hits and one walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The visiting Hawks struck first in the top of the third with an RBI single to right field. They would score in the next inning as well after the runner at first was caught in a rundown between first and second, allowing the runner at third to score easily and give Monmouth a 2-0 lead. 
• In the Rams' previous game they weren't able to generate much offense in the first five innings and unfortunately that carried over into today as well. VCU had just two hits through the first five frames of the game: one coming from Carpenter and the other a bunt single that was hustled out by Vimael Machin. Only Carpenter would make it to second as Machin was caught stealing second to end the bottom of the fourth inning.
• Monmouth would add its third run in the top of the sixth on an RBI double, but the Rams would make some noise in the bottom of the seventh. Carpenter's second hit of the day was followed up with a double from Cody Acker, giving VCU runners on second and third with two outs. The Rams would not be able to drive in either of those runs, and the score remained 3-0 heading into the final two innings.
• For both teams, the bullpen provided perfect pitching late in the game. Monmouth reliever Justin Andrews threw 2.1 perfect innings only to be upstaged by VCU reliever Thomas Gill, whose three perfect innings were punctuated by three strikeouts. Gill has now thrown 8.2 innings this season without allowing an earned run.
• However the perfect bullpens would mean that neither team would add any runs in the last three innings, and when the final out was recorded the Hawks came away with a 3-0 victory over VCU.

UP NEXT: The Rams will continue play in the PK5 Classic tomorrow with a game against James Madison that is currently scheduled for 5:30 before facing off against Minnesota on Sunday at 3:30.