Score: VCU 15, Maryland 7
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Winning Pitcher: Owen Tappy (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Garrett French (0-1)
Records: VCU 5-4, Maryland 6-3
 
The short story: Thanks to a 12-run seventh inning, VCU caught up to and flew past Maryland for an impressive midweek victory, wrapping things up just before the rains fell on a Wednesday afternoon at The Diamond.
 
LEADING OFF

• VCU trailed 6-3 entering the bottom half of the seventh, using 12 runs in that bottom frame to enter the eighth with a 15-6 lead
• Graduate Ethan Iannuzzi led the Rams at the plate with a pair of doubles, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored
• Senior William Bean reached base five times in the game, going 3-for-3 with a double, while also being hit twice to reach first
• Junior James McGrady came out of the pen to throw 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out four batters while not giving up a walk
• Graduate Owen Tappy got the win, finishing the game off by tossing the final 2.2 frames, giving up just one run on three hits
• Junior Casey Kleinman (2 RBIs), senior Brandon Eike (2B), graduate Eli Weisner (HR) and redshirt senior Cooper Benzin (3 RBIs) all had a pair of hits to give VCU six batter with multi-hit days at the plate
• Maryland's Eddie Hacopian led things for the Terrapins at the plate going 2-for-4, while starter Omar Melendez went 4.0 innings, giving up just two runs and three hits

THE STRETCH

• Maryland scored four runs in the top of the second to take an early 4-0 lead
• But with two outs in the second, McGrady relieved starter Cam Nuckols, getting out of that inning and before tossing three scoreless frames as the Rams battled back
• Iannuzzi smashed an RBI double in the fourth and came around to score on Benzin's sacrifice fly for the Rams' first two runs of the game
• Entering the seventh, after Maryland scored a run in the sixth and the top half of the seventh, VCU trailed 6-3
• Kleinman and Eike each hit singles to set up Hill's big shot, which came on a 1-2 pitch that the Ram right fielder smashed over the wall just to the left of dead center
• The three-run blast from Hill tied things up at 6-6
• Freshman Chris McHugh then hit a single and Weisner walked to each reach base, when after a pitching change, Iannuzzi hit a routine fly ball to right. But the right fielder dropped the ball, allowing McHugh to score
• Bean hit an RBI single, which scored Weisner and Benzin followed him with an RBI single through the right side. The back-to-back base hits broke the tie
• Redshirt freshman Devan Zirwas then laid down a bunt, which led to a throwing error on the pitcher, allowing Bean to score. Kleinman then smacked a two RBI single to plate Zirwas and Benzin
• Eike's double to center scored Kleinman, and a wild pitch coupled with a throwing error on the catcher allowed Eike to score himself
• Weisner put the finishing touches on VCU's 12-run frame, hitting a solo home run to left to make it 15-6
• Maryland added one in the ninth, but Tappy finished things off to wrap up VCU's 15-7 win

NOTABLE

• The 12 runs were the most scored in one inning since May 13, 2022 against UMass
• For the second time this year the Rams recorded 16 hits
• The Rams have now won two games against power five programs this season, having snagged a win over then-ranked No. 13 NC State in the opening weekend.
• VCU rolled out a different right side of the infield, with Weisner starting at first, McHugh bumping over to second and Kleinman heading behind the plate all for the first time this season

NEXT UP
The Rams remain at the Diamond for the Central Virginia Classic, starting on Friday, Mar. 1 when the Rams host Sacred Heart at 3 p.m. Central Connecticut State comes to the Diamond on Saturday, Mar. 2 (2 p.m.) and Boston College (1 p.m.) wraps up the weekend on Sunday, Mar. 3. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.