FINAL: VCU 4 (4-7), Jacksonville 3 (6-8) (Jacksonville, Fla.) – Sessions Stadium

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

JACKSONVILLE STARTERS: Gibson (LF), Amendolare (2B), Marabell (1B), Hays (RF), Dillard (DH), Luther (C), Seifert (3B), Gould (SS), Perez (CF), Tanner (SP)

THE BASICS: VCU jumped out to an early 2-run lead and never looked back today against Jacksonville, beating the Dolphins 4-3 to even the weekend series. JoJo Howie earned his first win of the season, allowing just three hits and one run in six innings. Daniel Concepcion came in for his second three inning save of the season Walker Haymaker's 2-run single in the sixth inning proved to be the difference.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• VCU flipped the script today, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Logan Farrar led off with a walk and James Bunn singled before both players advanced up a base after a wild pitch with Matt Davis at the plate. Davis would drive in Farrar on a sacrifice fly and Bunn would come in to score on a fielder's choice by Vimael Machin.
• Much like the game yesterday, Jacksonville found hits hard to come by early on. JoJo Howie allowed just two hits in his first five innings on the mound and, despite walking a few more than would be ideal, he pitched himself out of any sort of jam he put himself in. The Dolphins six runners on base in the first four innings combined.
• In the top of the sixth Walker Haymaker doubled the Rams' lead with a 2-run single into centerfield that made the score 4-0 in favor of VCU. It was the third straight base hit by the Rams in the inning, with Darian Carpenter and Alex Gransback reaching base before Haymaker.
• Howie got himself into a little bit of trouble in the bottom half of the sixth, allowing a base hit and walking two batters to load the bases with one out. Dolphin shortstop J.J. Gould drove in the first Jacksonville run of the game on a sac fly to right field to put his team on the board, 4-1. A strikeout would end the inning and take the Rams out of danger.
• Jacksonville's second run of the game came in the bottom of the eighth on a single to right field. Nate Ricci came around to score and slid right around the tag from Haymaker to put his team within two. A bloop single to left field brought another run across the plate and halved the Rams' lead, 4-3.
• Daniel Concepcion, who had come into the game in the bottom of the seventh inning in relief of Howie, struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to secure VCU's fourth victory of the season by a score of 4-3.

• Game three starts tomorrow at 1 pm and will be broadcast on ESPN3