Final Score: ODU 11, VCU 4
Winning Pitcher: Vincent Bashara (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Jack Goleski (1-1)
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 20-21, ODU 27-13
 
The Short Story: VCU Baseball dropped its final home midweek game of the season to Old Dominion on Tuesday evening at the Diamond.
 
LEADING OFF:

• Relief pitcher Brendan Erka carried the load, working 4.1 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, and striking out three
• AJ Mathis was 3-for-3 on the night, including a double and two walks
• Ethan Brooks had two hits and batted in two runs
• ODU hit three home runs, including a grand slam by Alex Bouche

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Monarchs opened the game by scoring two runs in the top of the first
• Erka held the Monarchs scoreless in the second and third frames with two straight 1-2-3 innings
• ODU tacked on another two runs in the top of the fourth thanks to Luke Waters double into right-center field
• ODU dropped five more runs in the top of the sixth which came from a grand slam by Alex Bouche and a solo shot in the next at-bat from Jake Ticer
• VCU responded in the bottom half of the inning by loading the bases and scoring their first run when Casey Gibbs was hit by a pitch and Jake Thilges crossed home plate
• Ethan Brooks singled on the next at-bat, which scored Jacob Selden and William Bean, in-part thanks to a throwing error
• In the eighth inning, Cooper Benzin singled to left field, which scored Gibbs who had walked to get aboard

UP NEXT: The Rams stay at home for a three-game conference series against Saint Louis beginning on Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. All of the games will be streamed on ESPN+.