BENZIN, RAMS RALLY PAST DAYTON 6-4
 
Score: VCU 6, Dayton 4
Location: Dayton, Ohio (Woerner Field)
Records: VCU 24-17 (9-5 Atlantic 10), Dayton 18-21 (6-8)
 
The short story: Junior left fielder Cooper Benzin capped a late VCU rally with a two-run, go-ahead homer in the eighth inning as the Rams shocked Dayton Saturday at Woerner Field.
 
FIRST PITCH

• Benzin's home run was his first of the season. He finished the day 1-for-4
• VCU sophomore first baseman Tyler Locklear provided a critical two-run double for VCU, while sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak turned in a 3-for-5 performance at the plate, including a pair of doubles
• Sophomore designated hitter Will Carlone also homered for the Black and Gold, his second of the year
• Sophomore lefty Jack Masloff (4-1) delivered an outstanding relief effort to earn the win for the Rams. In four innings, Masloff did not allow a run and surrendered just two base hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter

THE DIFFERENCE

• In a 4-3 game, Benzin stepped to the plate with two outs and a man on in the top of the eighth and promptly stroked a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence to give the Rams a lead they would not relinquish
• VCU trailed by as many as four runs, but a Carlone led off the top seventh with a solo home run. Dayton hit a pair of batters and misplayed a ground ball to load the bases for Locklear, who delivered a double through the left side to score a pair
•  Junior right fielder Logan Amiss added an RBI double in the top of the ninth to pad VCU's lead
• VCU's bullpen provided 5.2 innings of scoreless relief 

NEXT UP
VCU will aim for a series sweep when it takes on Dayton on Sunday at noon at Woerner Field. That game will be broadcast on ESPN+.