Score: VMI 4, VCU 1
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 15-12, VMI 9-20
The short story: The Keydets used a bases-clearing triple in the top of the ninth to hand the Rams a non-conference midweek loss.
FIRST PITCH
- Redshirt sophomore right-hander Mason Delane started on the bump for the Rams, throwing 3.0 scoreless innings and striking out three batters.
- Redshirt junior lefty Maddison Furman relieved Delane with 2.0 scoreless frames.
- Freshman righty Chase Hungate allowed a single run across 3.0 innings, collecting a game-high four strikeouts.
- Redshirt junior first baseman Michael Haydak went 2-for-3 with a walk and scored VCU's lone run.
- Will Lopez threw the final 1.2 innings without allowing a run to earn the win for VMI.
- The Rams left seven runners on base, while the Keydets stranded six.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After Haydak led off the bottom of the first with a walk, sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak smoked a two-out double to the gap in right center to bring home Haydak.
- Delane cruised through the first inning with a pair of strikeouts, and induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play in the second.
- Furman escaped a bases loaded jam in the fourth with a second 6-4-3 double play.
- After Reeves Whitmore was hit by a pitch and took second on a wild pitch, Cole Jenkins delivered an RBI single through the right side to tie the game at 1-1 in the seventh.
- VMI loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on a VCU throwing error, a walk, and an infield single. A triple down the right field line by Ty Swaim cleared the bases and scored three unearned runs that were the difference in the game.
NOTABLE
- Haydak has reached base in the leadoff at-bat of the game in six straight contests. He also leads the Rams with 10 multi-hit games this season.
- Hujsak and Haydak extended their hitting streaks to eight and seven games, respectively.
- Redshirt sophomore third baseman Tyler Locklear drew a pair of walks and extended his reached base streak to 10 games.
UP NEXT
The Rams host Davidson for a crucial three-game Atlantic 10 series at The Diamond from April 8-10. VCU was picked to win the conference in a preseason poll of the league's coaches, while the Wildcats sit atop the league standings with a 22-5 record, and a 3-0 mark in conference play. The games will be streamed on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased
here.