The Basics

• Score: VCU 8, Rhode Island 2
• Records: VCU (36-22, 17-10 A10), Rhode Island (25-24-1, 15-10 A10)
• Location: Tucker Field at Barcroft Park – Arlington, Va.
• The Short Story: With tonight's 8-2 win over #2 seed Rhode Island the Rams have earned a spot in tomorrow's Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship Round. The 10^th consecutive win for VCU comes courtesy of a couple of three-hit days from Walker Haymaker and Vimael Machin, as well as great pitching from Sean Thompson, Matt Lees, and Daniel Concepcion.
  
  
  

How It Happened

• For the first time in this tournament so far, the Rams found themselves trailing. Rhode Island's Chris Hess took a pitch deep to left field for a solo home run. It marked the first time since May 9^th that VCU trailed in a game, a span totaling 55 innings.
• Another solo home run by URI's Ryan Olmo in the top of the third put those Rams ahead 2-0.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Walker Haymaker came to the plate with the bases loaded and lined a double to left field that sailed over the left fielder's head and cleared the bases, putting VCU ahead 3-2.
• The bats woke up a bit more in the bottom of the sixth for VCU. Logan Farrar started things off with a sacrifice fly to left field which was immediately followed by a liner up the middle from Daane Berezo. To cap off the inning Vimael Machin blasted a double out to the warning track in left field to bring in a couple of runs and give the Rams a 7-2 lead.
• During that sixth inning Matt Davis took a pitch on the shoulder, which marked the 101^st time this season that VCU has drawn a hit by pitch. That number is now tops in the nation.
• Sean Thompson gave the Rams a good start on the mound, going 5.1 innings allowing just two runs and not walking anyone. Seniors Matt Lees and Daniel Concepcion came in to close things up en route to VCU's 8-2 win.

Up Next

• VCU will play tomorrow afternoon against either Rhode Island, Davidson, or George Washington for a chance to win an Atlantic 10 Championship.