Score: VCU 6, Massachusetts 1
Location: Amherst, Mass. (Earl Lorden Field)
Records: VCU 32-18 (16-5 Atlantic 10), Massachusetts 20-24-1 (7-14 A-10)
 
The short story: The Rams used dominant pitching and a hot bat from redshirt sophomore third baseman Ben Nippolt to complete their third straight sweep of an Atlantic 10 series.
 
FIRST PITCH

• VCU has won seven games in a row, 15 of its last 18 games, and is 29-10 since March 8.
• Rams pitchers allowed just two hits in the game, tied for a season low. VCU also issued just a single walk.
• VCU outscored UMass 50-6 across the three-game series.
• Nippolt went 3-for-5 with a double and collected three RBIs.
• Redshirt sophomore right-hander Mason Delane (2-1) earned the win on the mound, throwing 4.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
• Redshirt sophomore left-hander Jack Masloff notched his third save of the year, tossing 3.0 scoreless frames with a trio of strikeouts.
• Sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak also went 3-for-5 with a double, scoring two runs and stealing a base.
• Redshirt sophomore designated hitter Will Carlone went 2-for-3 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, a run, and an RBI.
• Redshirt sophomore left fielder Cooper Benzin went 1-for-3 with a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and two RBIs.
• Graduate catcher Jacob Selden had a great on-base day, going 1-for-2 with two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and a run.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UMass opened the scoring with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the first, but Nippolt responded to tie the game with an RBI double in the top of the third, scoring Selden who had singled and moved to second on Benzin's sacrifice bunt.
• The Rams plated two runs in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Hujsak doubled off the first pitch of the inning, then advanced to third on a ball in the dirt. After redshirt junior center fielder AJ Mathis reached on a fielder's choice where no outs were recorded, Carlone sent an RBI single through the right side to give VCU the lead. Selden walked to load the bases, then Nippolt scored Mathis from third with a ground ball single past the pitcher.
• Nippolt recorded an RBI for a third straight at-bat in the sixth, singling to left to score Carlone, who led off the inning with a walk, pushing the VCU advantage to 4-1.
• Delane recorded four straight scoreless innings from the third through the sixth, allowing just one baserunner on a two-out single in the fourth. The right-hander got help defensively from Nippolt, who made a diving stop down the third base line to rob a hit in the fifth.
• Benzin gave VCU insurance runs in the top of the ninth, delivering a two-run single with the bases loaded to make it 6-1.
• Masloff sat down the first eight batters he faced from the seventh through the ninth, before a two-out walk snapped his streak of 25.0 straight innings without conceding a base on balls. A groundout ended the game and gave Masloff a nine-out save.

 
NOTABLE

• Nippolt is on a six-game hitting streak, while his trio of RBIs tied a season high set on Friday against the Minutemen.
• Delane's outing was the longest of his career without allowing a run.
• Benzin leads VCU and the A-10 with 10 sac bunts on the season.
• Redshirt sophomore first baseman Tyler Locklear has reached base in 33 straight games, and leads the Rams with 18 hit-by-pitches.
• Hujsak has stolen a team-best 14 bases this season.

 
UP NEXT
The Rams play their final non-conference game of the season Tuesday, May 17, hosting Georgetown at 6:30 p.m. from The Diamond. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased here.