Final Score: Sacred Heart 7, VCU 6 (10 innings)
Winning Pitcher: Tyler Briggs (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Brendan Erka (0-1)
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 2-2, Sacred Heart 1-3
 
The Short Story: Sacred Heart scored two runs late, one in the ninth and one in the 10th, to spoil VCU's home opener despite solid middle relief from James Gladden and a strong day at the plate for William Bean.
 
LEADING OFF: 

• VCU took the lead in the eighth inning but runs in the ninth and a go-ahead run in the 10th inning by Sacred Heart would be the difference in the game.
• James Gladden gave VCU 4 innings of solid work from the pen, striking out three while giving up just one hit.
• Bean went 3-for-5 at the plate, hitting for power recording his first career double and triple while knocking in a pair of runs.
• Will Carlone went 2-for-5, recording his first career triple.
• VCU was strong in the field and for the first time this season the Rams did not record an error.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Sacred Heart opened the scoring with two runs in the first, but the damage was held in check by a double play turned by Ethan Brooks who took the out at second himself before tossing it to first for the second out.
• VCU answered in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single to left by Carlone, scoring Bean who had recorded a single to center and advanced to third on a Harrison Long single to center.
• The Pioneers again scored in the second, but Ellis got Sacred Heart to ground into another double play, this one being inning-ending turned by Bean who took the out at second before throwing to first for the final out of the frame.
• The Rams pushed a run across the dish in the bottom of the second, on a Cooper Benzin single to right that scored Brooks and after two innings it was 3-2 with Sacred Heart in the lead.
• In the third, Sacred Heart scored another run, but with runners in scoring position Ellis dug deep and got the final out of the inning with a big punch out to strand a pair of Pioneer runners.
• Gladden took the bump to start the fourth and the Ram freshman made the most of his debut, holding Sacred Heart to just one run (fourth inning) over four innings of work.
• During the bottom of the fourth the Rams came storming back and scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by Bean's two-RBI double to center and after the inning was over the game was tied up at 5-5.
• VCU did threaten in the fifth inning, but were unable to take advantage of a pair of fielding errors by Sacred Heart.
• Things remained tied until the bottom of the eighth. In that frame the Rams took a late lead and it started with a lead-off triple by Bean. The next two batters made out, but it gave a chance for Logan Amiss to get it done.
• After taking the first pitch, Amiss got what he wanted and lined a single to right field to bring home what was at the time, the go-ahead run putting VCU up 6-5.
• Despite taking the lead, the Rams were unable to hold it as Sacred Heart scored a run in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch and in the 10th they took the lead and held it in the bottom half of the 10th to lock up the 7-6 win.

UP NEXT: VCU remains at The Diamond for another matchup with Sacred Heart on Saturday, Feb. 25 with first pitch set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.