Score: VCU 3, #13 NC State 5
Location: Raleigh, N.C. (Doak Field)
Winning Pitcher: Ryan Marohn (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Zachary Peters (0-1)
Save: Jacob Dudan (1)
Records: VCU 1-2, #13 NC State 2-1
 
The short story: Despite again getting solid pitching out of the pen, VCU Baseball lost today's rubber game at No. 13 NC State, with a close call at first in the ninth inning going against the Rams playing a key role in the final outcome of a tight Sunday contest.
 
LEADING OFF

• Senior Nick Cosentino made his VCU debut out of the pen, going two shutout innings, giving up one hit and striking out one Wolfpack batter
• Junior Will Gross, making his Division I collegiate debut, got two big outs for the Rams, striking out one in his 0.2 innings of work
• Redshirt senior Cooper Benzin led the VCU offense, going 2-for-4
• Redshirt senior Nic Ericsson and graduate Ethan Iannuzzi each hit their first home runs of the season
• NC State's Ryan Marohn threw 5.0 innings to get the win, while Garrett Pennington's 3-for-5 day at the plate led the Wolfpack offensively

THE STRETCH

• NC State scored its first five runs over the opening six frames, getting two in the third on back-to-back RBI singles
• VCU moved the baseball around in the sixth to get on the board, started by a lead off single by freshman Chris McHugh. McHugh would come around to score after being moved over by senior William Bean and redshirt freshman Devan Zirwas. Iannuzzi then grounded out, knocking in McHugh and opening VCU's account on the day
• With the score at 5-1, VCU continued to battle back and in the seventh Ericsson led off the frame with a solo shot to left
• Iannuzzi then followed up his earlier great catch in left with a solo home run of his own to left, this one coming with two outs in the eighth
• VCU entered the ninth inning, after getting shut down pitching out of the pen from sophomore Brian Curley (2.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 K), Gross and Cosentino, in position to complete another comeback
• Senior Brandon Eike led off the frame with a seven-pitch walk and it brought sophomore Aden Hill to the plate
• Hill grounded to the shortstop, who's throw to second got Eike, but in the next throw to first, the first base umpire called Hill out, even though the Ram sophomore beat the throw by several steps
• Despite the protests of VCU head coach Bradley LeCroy, due to instant replay being down because of a technological issue, the play could not be reviewed and the call stood
• McHugh then grounded out to end the game, giving NC State the 5-3 game win and the series win

NOTABLE

• Iannuzzi's home run was the first of his Division I collegiate career, having hit 22 in his career at Randolph-Macon (third-best all-time at RMC)
• For the second-straight game, VCU pitching shut down the Wolfpack for at least the final two innings, holding NC State scoreless over those frames

NEXT UP
The Rams return to the Diamond for the first game of 2024 at home, welcoming Longwood to Richmond, Va. for a Tuesday, Feb. 20 matchup. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. and tickets are buy-one-get-one free at the door.