Final Score: Manhattan 8, VCU 6
Location: The Diamond (Richmond, Va.)
Records: VCU 3-7, Manhattan 1-6 

The Short Story: While the wind storm that ran through Richmond made an appearance at the ballpark, it did not bring a victory in the way of the VCU Rams. They would drop to the Manhattan Jaspers Friday afternoon by a score of 8-6 as a late inning rally fell short.

LEADING OFF

• Mitchel Lacey led all offensive players with a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a walk.
• Haiden Lamb pitched in with a two-hit effort as well, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Five other Rams would score a hit in the game, with four of them also scoring a run in the ballgame.
• Starting pitcher Connor Gillispie was dominant on the mound, striking out seven batters in three innings of work, walking one and giving up a run.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Manhattan got on the board early in the top of the first, as an RBI single by Matt Forlow would score a run.
• Trailing 1-0 for the front portion of the game, VCU tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Daane Berezo. That would score Lamb to tie the game 1-1.
• The Jaspers took back the edge on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning, as a VCU error allowed a run to score. That would put things at 2-1.
• VCU answered back in the bottom of the sixth as an unusual 9-6 fielder's choice off the bat of Liam Hibbits would score a run for the Rams, tying the game back up at 2-2.
• Things would fall apart for the Rams in the top of the eighth inning, as the Black & Gold would give up a six-run inning, all with two outs. By the end of it, they would be trailing 8-2.
• However, the Rams wouldn't quit as they fought back with runs in the bottom of the ninth. A Steven Carpenter single and Berezo walk would set up an RBI single by Paul Witt, putting the score at 8-3.
• Lacey joined the crowd with an RBI single to right with the bases loaded, scoring a pair of runs and bringing the Rams within three.
• Tyler Juhl made the most of a pinch hit plate appearance, reaching on an error at first while a run scored. Juhl would go on to steal second base, putting him as the tying run on second.
• However, the Rams couldn't get the job done, ending the game at an 8-6 score in favor of Manhattan.

WHAT'S NEXT

VCU will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, March 3 when they return home to The Diamond for game two of a three-game series versus the Manhattan Jaspers. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.