Final Score: VCU 5, NJIT 4 (10 innings)
Winning Pitcher: Campbell Ellis (2-2)
Losing Pitcher: Liam Reiner (0-2)
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 7-11, NJIT 5-9
 
The Short Story: Mounting two comebacks in the ninth and 10th innings, VCU Baseball walked off NJIT to take the first game of the weekend set, courtesy of an RBI single by Cooper Benzin in the 10th and strong pitching from Christian Gordon and Campbell Ellis.
 
LEADING OFF: 

• VCU scored one run in the eighth, ninth and two in the bottom of the 10th to complete the comeback.
• Benzin also recorded a Little League Inside-The-Park Home Run in the fourth inning to go along with the walk-off hit.
• Benzin led the day for VCU with a 3-for-5 day, scoring two runs and recording the game-winning RBI.
• Gordon, throwing 5.1 innings from the start, allowed just two earned runs on three hits and hi struck out four in his 5-plus inning start.
• Ellis, who came in to throw 4.2 innings of relief, struck out four batters while allowing two earned runs and five hits.
• Jake Thilges and Ethan Brooks each recorded a pair of hits to give VCU three Rams with multi-hit days.
• Brooks had a pair of big RBI singles, getting the Rams within one run in the eighth and tying it in the 10th.
• This was VCU's first walk-off win of 2023 and the first since walking off Georgetown in 12 innings on May 17, 2022.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The first three innings could be classified as a pitching duel, as both teams could not get a run across the plate. Over those opening three and a half innings, both sides left a combined total of five runners on base as Gordon and NJIT's starter Ryan Fischer were dealing.
• In the fourth, things got crazy and Benzin took advantage.
• Leading off the fourth inning, Benzin popped one into shallow right field that found a spot between a ranging second baseman and right fielder, dropping in for a double. NJIT's Kevin Putsky then attempted to throw Benzin out at second but the ball flew past an outreached fielder covering second and went into left field. From there Benzin popped up and was off to the races, scoring on the Little League Inside-The-Park Home Run to put the Rams up 1-0.
• In the sixth, NJIT would take the lead. Knocking out Gordon and scoring three runs on three hits in the frame, to go up 3-1 with three innings left.
• To open the eighth inning, Scottie O'Bryan took to the plate as a pinch hitter and on the second pitch he saw, smashed a double to center.
• O'Bryan was eventually brought home on a Brooks RBI single past the third basemen to pull VCU within one at 3-2.
• After Ellis kept the Highlanders off the board in the top half of the ninth, the Rams were set to tie the game and force extras.
• Benzin again got the Rams started, single past second, and with two outs Eike stepped to the dish. Facing a 2-0 count, Eike hit one to right that score Benzin from third and tied the game up at 3-3, completing the comeback and forcing free baseball at The Diamond.
• NJIT managed to get a run across in the top of the 10th, but the Rams were again up to the task of coming back and entered the bottom half of the 10th needing one to tie and two to win.
• Thilges got it started with a double to center, and he was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Nic Ericsson.
• Brooks then stepped up, and just like he did in the eighth, smacked a single to right field that scored Thilges.
• Brooks stole second with two outs to put himself in scoring position and give Benzin the chance to be the hero.
• With a 2-2 count, Benzin got the pitch he wanted, smashing a single into right that score Brooks from second to give the Rams their first walk-off win of 2023.

UP NEXT: VCU and NJIT continue their weekend series at The Diamond with Saturday's game set for a 2 p.m. first pitch and Sunday scheduled for 12 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.