Score: VCU: 5, Sacred Heart: 3
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 4-1, Sacred Heart 0-1

THE SHORT STORY

VCU fought hard to the end and ultimately walked away with the 5-3 victory behind senior Hogan Brown's impressive performance.

LEADING OFF

• Brown finished 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. He also recorded five putouts, including a spectacular running catch in center field.
• Danny Watson picked up his first victory of the season on the mound Friday afternoon.
• Evan Chenier looked tough on the mound, throwing the final inning for VCU to pick up his first save of the season.
• The Rams outhit the Pioneers 10-6 on the afternoon.
• Steven Carpenter and Hunter Vay also had hot days at the plate, both picking up two hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Wasting little time, VCU took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Paul Witt gave the Rams a base runner after picking up a walk. Consecutive hits by Tyler Locklear and Liam Hibbits drove Witt across home plate for the lead.
• After a scoreless second, Sacred Heart knotted things back up in the top of the third. A leadoff double eventually scored during a rundown to tie things up 1-1.
• Edwin Serrano came out of the bullpen in the fourth inning and threw 3.1 scoreless innings. He gave up just one hit, keeping VCU in the ballgame.
• VCU retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Steven Carpenter got things rolling with a leadoff base knock. Two more hits by Vay and Brown loaded the bases with no outs and Alex Aguila laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to drive across the go-ahead run for a 2-1 lead.
• Sacred Heart's bats got hot in the top of the eighth, scoring two runs on four hits to take its first 3-2 lead of the day.
• The Rams responded in the bottom of the eighth with three runs of its own. Another leadoff hit by Carpenter set VCU up to make some damage. With runners on second and third, Brown batted one in to tie things back up. A Brett Young RBI single and bases loaded walk drawn by Witt gave VCU the 5-3 lead.
• Chenier came out of the bullpen for the top of the ninth and got the three outs needed to secure the VCU win.

NEXT UP

VCU will continue its series against Sacred Heart Saturday, Feb. 21 at The Diamond. First Pitch is slated for 2 p.m.