Score: VCU 10, Central Connecticut State 0 (8 innings)
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Winning Pitcher: Christian Gordon (1-0
Losing Pitcher: Anthony Mozzicato (0-1)
Save: Cade Dressler (1)
Records: VCU 7-4, Central Connecticut State 0-2
 
The short story: Using the "10-run rule" for a second win this season, and getting top notch pitching on the bump from senior Christian Gordon and junior Cade Dressler VCU Baseball won its third straight game taking down Central Connecticut State.
 
LEADING OFF

• Gordon got the win, throwing four scoreless frames, striking out five and giving up just three hits
• Dressler got his first save of the season when the Ram junior came out of the pen to finish the final four frames, giving up no runs, striking out five and only allowing for one hit
• VCU and CCSU had a coach's agreement ahead of the game for a "10-run rule" situation. When the Rams scored a run in the early parts of the bottom of the eighth, it made it 10-0 and give VCU a 10-run lead after at least seven complete innings
• Senior Brandon Eike went 2-for-5, with a pair of doubles and four RBIs
• Graduate Ethan Iannuzzi had a double, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, one stolen base and two RBIs
• Redshirt senior Nic Ericsson continued his torrid start, going 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored
• CCSU's Jack Kelley completed the game for the Blue Devils, throwing 2.2 innings, giving up just one run and two hits

THE STRETCH

• VCU scored to open the game in the first inning, but it would be the fourth where the game was won
• Back-to-back lead off walks from Iannuzzi and senior William Bean, followed by Iannuzzi's stolen base, put VCU in position to take the lead after redshirt senior Cooper Benzin's sacrifice fly
• The next two Rams would reach (Ericsson, hit by pitch; junior Casey Kleinman (BB)) to set the plate for Eike to eat
• After taking the opening two balls, Eike smashed a bases clearing double to center field to push VCU past CCSU, 5-0
• VCU added one more (freshman Chris McHugh, sacrifice flies)
• After Gordon had shut down the CCSU lineup over the opening frames, Dressler came out the pen dealing allowing the Rams to get on and off the field quickly to continue to build the lead
• In the fifth Ericsson knocked in Benzin (FC) and Iannuzzi (double) to make it 8-0 and Eike again doubled in a run, bringing home Ericsson later in the frame to extend things to 9-0
• More shut down frames from Dressler led to the eighth, where redshirt freshman Devan Zirwas pinch hit and got on via a single, moving to second after sophomore Ethan Brooks was hit by a pitch. Iannuzzi then to a 2-2 pitch into center field to score Zirwas and end things via the "10-run lead"

NOTABLE

• The Rams are 6-1 at home, the best start to a home schedule since 2019
• VCU beat Longwood on Feb. 20 (home opener) via the "10-run rule", winning 16-6 in the eighth
• Over the weekend, Ericsson is batting 1.000, going 3-for-3 on Friday against Sacred Heart and 2-for-2 in today's win over CCSU

NEXT UP
The Rams remain at the Diamond for the final game of the Central Virginia Classic, when they host Boston College at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.