Score:Â Rutgers 8, VCU 0
Location:Â Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records:Â VCU 3-7, Rutgers 9-1
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The short story:Â VCU left seven runners on base as Rutgers exploded for eight runs to close the Central Virginia Classic.
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FIRST PITCH
- Freshman second baseman Marcus O'Malley went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
- Redshirt sophomore third baseman Tyler Locklear and sophomore outfielder Devan Barnett collected doubles for the Rams.
- Sophomore pitcher Justin Humenay made his season debut, closing out the eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts.
- Freshman right-hander Nick Frazier made his collegiate debut, recording a 1-2-3 ninth inning on six pitches.
- Rutgers starter Nathan Florence earned the win with 5.1 scoreless innings and six strikeouts, while VCU starter Tyler Davis was dealt the loss.
- Josh Kuroda-Grauer led the Scarlet Knights with four RBIs.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nick Cimillo opened the scoring with a towering solo home run to left in the second inning.
- Rutgers scored three runs in the fourth off a two-run single from Kuroda-Grauer and an RBI groundout from Jordan Sweeney.
- VCU put two runners in scoring position in the sixth with a pair of walks and a passed ball, but a diving stop by Kuroda-Grauer at second base ended the frame with a groundout.
- Rutgers doubled their lead in the eighth. After Danny DiGeorgio reached on an error, the Scarlet Knights put together four straight hits. A two-run single from Kuroda-Grauer and a two-run triple from Mike Nyisztor pushed the advantage to 8-0.
- Sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak and Barnett got into scoring position in the ninth with a two-out single and double, respectively, but a pop-up ended the game.
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UP NEXT
The Rams have a midweek home-and-home against Maryland, playing the Terrapins in College Park, Md., at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8 and hosting the Terps at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9 at The Diamond.
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