Final Score: Sacred Heart 11, VCU 5
Winning Pitcher: Mitch Hawkins (1-0)
Save: Charlie Costello (1)
Losing Pitcher: Christian Gordon (1-1)
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 2-3, Sacred Heart 2-3
 
The Short Story: Despite getting within one run of completing the comeback, VCU came up short giving up five runs over the final two frames as Sacred Heart pulled away late to take the second game of the weekend series on a cold and wet night at The Diamond.
 
LEADING OFF: 

• After the opening inning and a half, the heavy rain was enough to pull the tarp and both Sacred Heart and VCU sat through a one hour and 57-minute rain delay.
• Will Carlone had another solid day at the plate, extending his hit streak to 16 games as went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one double.
• AJ Mathis, hitting leadoff, reached base three times and scored one run.
• William Bean went 2-for-5 at the dish, knocking in a pair of runs.
• Christian Gordon got the start, going two innings before the rain delay.
• Both Cade Dressler and Cam Nuckols gave VCU three innings of work after the delay.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Pioneers opened the scoring with runs in the first and second innings before the tarp was pulled.
• VCU got its first run of the game in the bottom half of the first inning when Carlone knocked in Mathis who had reached on a walk and stole second base, before making it to third on a passed ball.
• After the top half of the second, the rain had become too much for the field and the game entered a one-hour and 57-minute rain delay, with Sacred Heart holding a 3-1 lead.
• When the action resumed, the Pioneers would add to their lead in the fourth, after a scoreless third, scoring three runs in the third.
• Down 6-1 entering the fifth, the Rams had their best inning of the game.
• Ethan Brooks began the frame with a single to right and he advanced to second when Casey Gibbs reached on a fielder's choice and the second baseman's throw pulled the shortstop from second to allow Brooks to reach safely.
• Mathis then drew a one-out walk to load fill the bases up with Rams. Up stepped Bean, and after seeing two pitches he crushed a double to center, scoring Gibbs and Brooks.
• With two outs, Carlone stepped into the box with two runners on and the hot Ram hitter remained scorching, smacking a double over the centerfielder's head to plate both Bean and Mathis. Carlone's two-RBI double got the Rams within one run, putting the score at 6-5.
• It was the last runs the Rams would score, as Sacred Heart's pitching shut down the VCU bats, and with two runs in the eighth and three in the ninth the Pioneers locked up the 11-5 victory.

UP NEXT: VCU and Sacred Heart wrap up their weekend series at The Diamond with a Sunday matinee. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.