FINAL: VCU 7 (8-8), James Madison 7 (9-7)

LOCATION: The Diamond – Richmond, Va.

VCU STARTERS: Farrar (DH), Bunn (LF), Davis (3B), Machin (SS), Carpenter (1B), Kerrigan (CF), Acker (RF), Haymaker (C), Berezo (2B), Dwyer (SP).

PENN STARTERS: Carroll (SS), Wyatt (DH), McPherson (2B), Weston (3B), Johnson (1B), Sciorra (CF), Husum (RF), Sisk (LF), Hanson (C), Bradshaw (SP)

THE BASICS: Playing in the third game on Sunday in the PK5 Classic, VCU came away with a 7-1 win over James Madison behind Heath Dwyer's excellent performance on the mound. The lefty threw 6.1 innings, striking out seven and walking just one while improving to 3-1 on the season. Vimael Machin drove in three of VCU's runs while Logan Farrar had a multi-hit night at the top of the order.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• As has been the case since the Rams returned home to the Diamond, they struck first and scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Machin started it off with an RBI single that drove in James Bunn, and VCU would score its next two runs by capitalizing on a couple of JMU errors. The Dukes ended up with five total errors on the night.
• James Madison would score its only run in the very next inning, driving in a run on a single through the right side of the infield to make the score 3-1.
• The Rams would plate two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, again taking advantage of a couple of James Madison errors. VCU hit the ball hard all night so runs were going to come regardless of the number of JMU fielding mistakes.
• In his 6.1 innings tonight Dwyer really got himself into any trouble aside from the one run in the second inning. He scattered five hits and a walk while sending down seven Dukes on strikes. The three relievers who would come in after Dwyer would allow just one base runner in their 2.2 innings. Tonight was a great example of two things VCU has excelled at all season: striking out opposing hitters and its bullpen.
• The final two VCU runs would come in on a double by Machin in the bottom of the seventh. His two-base hit would score Logan Farrar and James Bunn, who both reached base consecutively to lead off the inning.
• Thanks to Thomas Gill, Garrett Pearson, and Tyler Buckley the Dukes were not able to put up much of a fight in the late innings, and after the final out was recorded the Rams came away with a 7-1 victory.

QUOTABLE: "Good job by the guys coming back and playing with great energy tonight after a tough loss on Friday. It started off with Heath Dwyer giving us a great start, going 6.1 with seven strikeouts and just one walk while scattering five hits. And the bullpen as outstanding, walking just the one guy over the last three innings. The top of the order was really good tonight, I thought they had a great approach. Six sits from our top four guys and four RBI from them, so I thought they all did a really good job. The whole game we played with great energy." -Head Coach Shawn Stiffler

"On another note, I know coach McFarland is retiring at the end of the year and I would like to wish him a happy retirement and to thank him for all of his service to college baseball he's provided throughout his career." -Coach Stiffler

UP NEXT: VCU will finish up the PK5 Classic on Monday with a game against Minnesota at 6:30 pm.