Score: VCU 26, Massachusetts 2
Location: Amherst, Mass. (Earl Lorden Field)
Records: VCU 30-18 (14-5 Atlantic 10), Massachusetts 20-22-1 (7-12 A-10)
 
The short story: VCU's bats exploded for 12 runs in the first inning, setting the tone for a game in which it set several offensive season highs in a blowout win to open the series at UMass.
 
FIRST PITCH

• The Rams' 26 runs were their most since a 28-4 win at La Salle on April 7, 2019.
• The 12 runs in the first were VCU's most in a single inning since joining the A-10 in 2013.
• VCU has won five games in a row, and has claimed seven straight A-10 contests. The Rams have also won 13 of their last 16 games and are 27-10 since March 8.
• As a team, VCU notched season highs in runs (26), hits (22), home runs (7), RBIs (26), and hit-by-pitches (6), and struck out 14 Minutemen, which also tied a season high.
• Redshirt sophomore left fielder Cooper Benzin set career highs across the board with four hits, including three home runs, four runs, and seven RBIs. The trio of homers and seven RBIs were both the most by a VCU hitter this season.
• Redshirt sophomore first baseman Tyler Locklear had a monster day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, a career-high five runs, and a season-high five RBIs. Five runs are the most scored in a single game by a Ram this year.
• Redshirt junior outfielder AJ Mathis homered for the second straight game as he went 2-for-6 with a walk, two RBIs, and a season-high four runs.
• Freshman second baseman Marcus O'Malley hit his first collegiate home run as a part of a 2-for-6 day that included a hit-by-pitch, two runs, and two RBIs.
• Sophomore left-hander Campbell Ellis (3-4) earned the win on the mound, throwing a career-high 5.0 innings with five strikeouts, while allowing just one run on three hits and a walk.
• Redshirt sophomore infielder Ben Nippolt knocked in a season-high three RBIs and tied a season high with four runs on a 2-for-5 day with a double, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch.
• Redshirt sophomore designated hitter Will Carlone notched a career-high four RBIs, all in the first inning, in addition to a 2-for-4 day with a double, a walk, two hit-by-pitches, and two runs.
• Redshirt junior right-hander Evan Chenier tied a career high with six strikeouts in 3.0 innings of relief work.
• Redshirt junior lefty Jaden Griffin was one pitch away from an immaculate inning in the bottom of the ninth, striking out the side on 10 pitches.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• VCU sent 17 batters to the plate in the top of the first, stringing together nine hits (seven singles and two doubles) in addition to three walks and two hit-by-pitches to score 12 runs. Nippolt and Carlone had the big hits in the frame, each with a three-run double.
• Sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak doubled home Locklear in the second to push the lead to 13-0.
• The Rams hit three home runs in the third, with Benzin and O'Malley homering back-to-back and Locklear following with a two-run blast after Nippolt had been hit by a pitch, extending the lead to 17-0.
• Benzin led off the top of the fifth with a home run in his second straight at-bat, which made it 18-1.
• Benzin, who had one career homer entering Friday's game, homered for the third time in as many at-bats in the sixth, this time lifting a grand slam to left center. Locklear once again followed him with a two-run big fly, pushing the VCU advantage to 24-1.
• Redshirt sophomore right fielder Scottie O'Bryan singled home redshirt sophomore first baseman Nic Ericsson in the eighth, then Mathis added a homer in the ninth.

 
NOTABLE

• Locklear's second multi-homer game of the season moved him into a tie for fourth in VCU history for career home runs with Cory Bauswell (1998-2001), each with 29. In the process, Locklear passed Brandon Inge (1996-98), who after hitting 28 career homers for the Rams, went on to a 13-year Major League career.
• Locklear leads the Rams with 55 runs, 61 hits, 20 doubles, 12 home runs, 49 RBIs, 33 walks, 17 hit-by-pitches, and 18 multi-hit games this season.
• Hujsak, who went 3-for-5 with a double, a run, and two RBIs against the Minutemen, leads VCU with 13 multi-RBI games this year.

 
UP NEXT
The Rams and Minutemen play the second game of their A-10 series Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m. from Earl Lorden Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.