Score:Â VCU 11, George Mason 2
Location:Â Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records:Â VCU 27-14 (9-3, Atlantic 10), George Mason 9-22 (2-10)
Â
The short story: Junior center fielderÂ
Hogan Brown drove in four runs with a pair of doubles, and VCU pitchers combined to strike out 15 batters without issuing a walk as VCU swept the weekend series against George Mason.
Â
FIRST PITCH
- Brown led the Rams offense with a 2-for-4 outing that included two runs, four RBIs and a pair of walks.
- Junior designated hitter Liam Hibbits also went 2-for-4, collecting a run and two RBIs.
- Freshman starter Mason Delane earned his first win of the year, allowing just one run in five innings of work and striking out eight Patriots.
- Freshman lefty Andrew Ward struck out five in three innings of relief, allowing just one run.
Â
THE DIFFERENCE
- The Rams responded to George Mason's first-inning run with a pair of their own in the bottom of the frame. After Michael Haydak and Tyler Locklear reached base on a single and walk, respectively, and Steven Carpenter moved them over on a sacrifice bunt, Hibbits drilled a single through the right side to score two runs.
- Brown busted the game open in the bottom of the third by sending a bases-clearing double into the left field corner. He came around to score one batter later on Haydak's single through the right side to make it 6-1.
- After allowing the early run, Delane settled in and dominated on the mound, striking out five straight batters in the fourth and fifth innings.
- A Brandon Henson sacrifice fly in the fourth and another RBI double from Brown in the seventh pushed the VCU lead to 8-2.
- Three runs in the eighth, capped off by an RBI infield single from freshman Will Carlone, put the game out of reach.
- Freshman lefty Jack Masloff closed out the win with a perfect ninth inning that included two strikeouts.
Â
NOTABLE
- VCU extended its win streak to 11 games.
- The Rams are 17-3 at The Diamond this season.
- VCU outscored the Patriots 31-6 across the four-game sweep.
- The Rams are currently in sole possession of first place in the A-10 South Division.
Â
UP NEXT
VCU travels to Charlottesville, Va., for a midweek bout against Virginia Tuesday, May 4 at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
Â