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Virginia Commonwealth University

#LetsGoVCU
AJ Mathis Princeton Cover
1
Princeton PRIN 0-5
2
Winner VCU VCU 3-6
Princeton PRIN
0-5
1
Final
2
VCU VCU
3-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Princeton PRIN 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0
VCU VCU 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 X 2 3 1

W: Wilson, Nolan (1-0) L: Rabin, Reece (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

MATHIS RUNS VCU PAST PRINCETON, 2-1

Score: VCU 2, Princeton 1
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 3-6, Princeton 0-5
 
The short story: Redshirt junior center fielder AJ Mathis dove head-first into first base to beat the tag and drive home the winning run in the bottom of the eighth of a tightly-contested non-conference game.
 
FIRST PITCH
  • Mathis's RBI infield single scored freshman designated hitter Casey Gibbs, who was making his first career start.
  • Redshirt sophomore third baseman Tyler Locklear crushed a solo shot to left field in the fourth inning, his fourth home run of the year.
  • Graduate pitcher Nolan Wilson earned his first win as a Ram, throwing the final three innings of the game and racking up seven strikeouts without allowing a run.
  • Freshman left-hander Cade Dressler made his third straight scoreless appearance, scattering two hits across three innings and striking out three Tigers.
  • Redshirt junior right fielder Logan Amiss went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base.
  • Princeton's starting pitcher Jackson Emus did not get a decision, but struck out 13 batters in 7.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Princeton's Nadir Lewis led off the second inning with a double to right center, then advanced to third on a passed ball. Matt Scannell's sacrifice fly scored Lewis, opening the scoring with an unearned run.
  • After allowing a leadoff walk in the third, VCU starter Mason Delane struck out his second and third batters of the day to get through a scoreless inning.
  • Locklear evened the score at 1-1 an inning later with a bomb to left field.
  • The Rams loaded the bases in the seventh with walks from Amiss and sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak, and a hit-by-pitch from freshman second baseman Marcus O'Malley, but a double play ended the VCU scoring threat.
  • Gibbs led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk, then moved to second on redshirt sophomore left fielder Cooper Benzin's sacrifice bunt. Redshirt junior infielder Michael Haydak nearly beat out an infield single, but his groundout still moved Gibbs to third. Mathis then ripped a ground ball down the first base line and dove to beat Tigers first baseman Kyle Vinci to the bag and drive in the winning run.
 
NOTABLE
  • Locklear's four home runs are tied for the most in the Atlantic 10. His solo shot was also his 21st career home run.
  • Amiss has reached base safely in every game this season.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams close out the Central Virginia Classic by hosting Rutgers Sunday, March 6 at The Diamond at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased here.
 
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