Final Score: VCU 18, South Florida 3
Winning Pitcher: James Gladden (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Chandler Dorsey (2-2)
Location: Tampa, Fla. (USF Baseball Stadium)
Records: VCU 11-11, South Florida 8-15
 
The Short Story: 15 runs in the final three innings helped propel VCU Baseball past South Florida and behind a four-hit night by Brandon Eike and a one-two punch on the mound of Christian Gordon and James Gladden the Rams won their fifth-straight game.
 
LEADING OFF: 

• With the score sitting at 3-3 heading into the seventh frame, VCU scored five in the seventh, nine in the eighth and finished it off with one more in the ninth to blow the doors off the game late.
• The nine runs scored in the eighth are the most scored in one inning this season and the most scored since scoring 12 in the first frame of VCU's win over UMass on May 13, 2022.
• The 18 runs are the most scored this season for VCU and the most since scoring 17 runs against Fordham on May 19, 2022.
• Eike went 4-for-6 with a home run, four RBIs and four runs scored.
• Eike extends his hitting and reaching base streak to 10 games.
• Gladden tossed four innings of relief to earn his third win of the season, giving up one earned run on three hits while striking out four.
• Gordon got the start, going five strong innings, giving up just two earned runs while striking out a career-high six batters.
• Cooper Benzin bounced back from a slow start to go 2-for-6 with a home run, knocking in a season-high five runs.
• Logan Amiss came off the bench to go for 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
• VCU has now won eight out of their last nine games.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Gordon set the tone of the game in the opening frame, working through two USF base runners to keep the Bulls off the board.
• It took just one pitch in the second for Eike to get VCU on the board. Taking the opening pitch of the frame and depositing it over the right-centerfield wall to give VCU a 1-0 lead.
• VCU added to its lead with a run in the third and fourth innings. In the third Will Carlone smacked an RBI single up the middle (scoring Mathis) and in the fourth Ethan Brooks knocked in Jake Thilges to put VCU up 3-0.
• In the fifth and sixth frames, USF scored three runs to tie things up at 3-3.
• But the game did not stay tied for long, in the seventh VCU proceeded to blow the game open.
• Back-to-back walks to open the frame started it and after AJ Mathis took a pitch off the chin the bases were loaded.
• VCU then struck out in the next two at-bats before Eike stepped into the box. With two outs and a 0-1 pitch Eike's hot night continued as he smacked a double down the left field line to clear the bases.
• The next two Ram batters would take HBP's to reach base and with two on Amiss pinch hit for Scottie O'Byran. Not waiting to get into the game, Amiss took the first pitch he saw into right field for a two-RBI single putting VCU up 8-3.
• VCU continued to pile it on in the eighth, and back-to-back walks got things started. Benzin then stepped up and battled through a 10-pitch at-bat, fouling off four straight pitches before going deep to left field to clear the bases for a three-run home run.
• The Rams again loaded the bases, and with a HBP (William Bean) and back-to-back fielder's choices from Amiss and Nic Ericsson the Rams extended their lead to 14-3.
• Three more runs would cross in the frame, capped off by a Benzin two-RBI single through the right side making it 17-3 with one inning left.
• Eike led off the ninth with a double to right center and he would be knocked in by Aden Hill (PH) for the final run of the game. And after Gladden put the Bulls away in order in the bottom half of the ninth VCU locked up its commanding 18-3 win to start the weekend.

UP NEXT: VCU and South Florida return to action in the second game of the weekend tomorrow (Sat., Mar. 25), with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.