Score: VCU 8, Longwood 3
Location: Farmville, Va. (Buddy Bolding Stadium)
Records: VCU 2-2, Longwood 3-1
 
The short story: VCU's offense jumped out of the gates with a four-run first inning to spark the Rams to a midweek in-state win.
 
FIRST PITCH

• Redshirt junior right fielder Logan Amiss went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a walk, and three runs scored, which tied a career high.
• Redshirt sophomore designated hitter Will Carlone went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run, and two RBIs.
• Sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak and redshirt junior first baseman Michael Haydak each picked up two RBIs, while redshirt sophomore left fielder Cooper Benzin recorded two hits with a run scored.
• Sophomore left-hander Campbell Ellis started the game with four scoreless innings, striking out three Lancers.
• Fellow sophomore lefty Tyler Davis earned his first win of the year, striking out four batters in two innings while allowing a pair of runs.
• Redshirt senior right-hander Edwin Serrano tossed two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Amiss led off the game by getting hit with a pitch, then moved up to third on two wild pitches. After redshirt sophomore center fielder Scottie O'Bryan walked and stole second, Haydak delivered an RBI groundout to score Amiss and open the scoring.
• Carlone singled home O'Bryan, then after graduate catcher Jacob Selden reached on an error, Hujsak smoked a triple down the left field line to drive in two runs and push the lead to 4-0 after the first half inning.
• Ellis stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the first with a pair of strikeouts, then turned in consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the next two frames. He closed out his outing with his third punch out of the day to finish a fourth scoreless inning.
• VCU extended their lead with two runs in the fifth. Amiss led off the inning by ripping a double down the right field line. O'Bryan then laid down a bunt, and both he and Amiss were safe at the corners after an errant throw from the Longwood catcher to third base. Redshirt sophomore third baseman Tyler Locklear reached on a fielder's choice that scored Amiss, then an RBI single to center by Carlone scored Locklear to make it 6-0.
• Longwood got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the fifth, but the Rams restored their six-run lead with two runs of their own in the top of the sixth. After back-to-back singles from Benzin and Amiss, O'Bryan sent an RBI double to right, then Haydak scored Amiss on a sac fly, pushing the VCU advantage to 8-2.

 
NOTABLE

• The win marked the 300th career victory for Head Coach Shawn Stiffler.
• Amiss hit his fourth double of the season; entering the game he was tied for the Atlantic 10 lead in the category.
• Right-handed pitcher Nolan Wilson, a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, made his VCU debut by closing out the ninth inning, allowing one run and recording a strikeout.

 
UP NEXT
The Rams travel to Oxford, Miss., for a three-game series at No. 3 Ole Miss from Feb. 25-27. The Rebels were a national seed for the 2021 NCAA Tournament.