Score: VCU 13, Richmond 2
Location: Richmond, Va. (Pitt Field)
Records: VCU 19-15 (5-4 Atlantic 10), Richmond 16-16 (2-7 A-10)
 
The short story: The VCU bats exploded for 13 runs for the second straight day, claiming the crosstown Atlantic 10 series with an emphatic win.
 
FIRST PITCH

• VCU outhit the Spiders by a 9-6 margin, while also capitalizing on five Richmond errors. The Rams drew 10 walks, while surrendering just four, and committed no errors defensively.
• Sophomore left-hander Tyler Davis got the starting nod for VCU, and earned his third win of the year with 5.0 innings pitched, allowing two runs on five hits and a pair of walks, while tying a career high with seven strikeouts.
• Freshman second baseman Marcus O'Malley went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run, and set a career high with three RBIs.
• Graduate catcher Jacob Selden walked twice and was hit by a pitch, collecting an RBI and scoring three runs, his most in a VCU uniform.
• Redshirt sophomore third baseman Tyler Locklear went 2-for-4 with two walks and two runs.
• Redshirt sophomore left fielder Cooper Benzin went 2-for-5 with a double, a walk, two runs and an RBI.
• Redshirt sophomore second baseman Ben Nippolt and redshirt junior right fielder Logan Amiss each scored a pair of runs, while sophomore designated hitter Devan Barnett collected a pair of RBIs.
• Redshirt junior lefty Jaden Griffin threw two scoreless and hitless innings of relief, striking out a pair.
• Redshirt sophomore lefty Jack Masloff allowed just one hit in two scoreless innings to close the game, striking out four Spiders.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nippolt reached on an error to lead off the game, as Richmond's right fielder dropped a hard-hit fly ball. After advancing to second on a passed ball, and to third on Amiss's flyout to center, Nippolt touched home plate on a wild pitch to open the scoring.
• The Spiders used a trio of hits, including an RBI triple and an RBI single, to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first.
• The Rams capitalized on Richmond errors to retake the lead in the top of the third. Locklear reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, and after Amiss was hit by a pitch, both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Barnett delivered an RBI groundout to score Locklear and tie the game at 2-2. A batter later, Selden hit a sharp ground ball at the second baseman and reached on an error, but still recorded an RBI as Amiss ran home to give VCU a 3-2 lead.
• VCU pulled away with a big inning in the fifth. After Locklear led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Amiss smoked a double to the gap in left center to make it 4-2. A walk to Barnett and a hit-by-pitch worn by Selden loaded the bases for Benzin, who drew an RBI walk to push the lead to 5-2. O'Malley followed with a two-run single up the middle to extend the VCU advantage to 7-2.
• After conceding a walk and a bunt single in the bottom of the fifth, Davis ended his outing in style with back-to-back strikeouts to strand a pair for a fourth consecutive scoreless inning.
• The Rams put together another big inning with three runs in the seventh after two great at-bats put two runners in scoring position. Selden drew a 10-pitch walk, followed by a seven-pitch double down the left field line by Benzin. VCU then scored runs in three consecutive at-bats when O'Malley reached on an error on a bunt to the pitcher, and freshman center fielder Jesse Robinson and Nippolt both singled, pushing the VCU lead to 10-2.
• VCU added insurance runs in the eighth as O'Malley reached on an error on a ball in the hole at shortstop, allowing Selden and Benzin to cross the plate, and then in the ninth on a Barnett RBI single.

 
NOTABLE

• Locklear has reached base in 17 straight games, and leads team with 33 runs this season.
• Amiss leads the Rams with 14 doubles this year.
• VCU has outscored its opponents 31-10 in the first inning of games this season. The Rams are 12-5 when scoring in the first inning, and 14-6 when scoring first.
• The Rams are 9-4 against teams from the state of Virginia.

 
UP NEXT
The Rams return to The Diamond to host No. 6 Virginia Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. In 2021, VCU beat the Cavaliers twice (once at The Diamond, once in Charlottesville, Va.) before Virginia eventually advanced to the College World Series. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased here.