Score: UMass 4, VCU 3
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Winning Pitcher: Renn Lints (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Christian Gordon (3-1)
Records: VCU 17-10 (1-1 A-10), UMass 8-13 (1-1 A-10)
 
The short story: Down 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, an Eli Weisner solo home run sparked a VCU rally, but the Rams fell short in the second game of their opening Atlantic 10 series against UMass.
 
LEADING OFF

• VCU junior infielder Casey Kleinman went a 2-for-4 at the plate, while senior third baseman Brandon Eike and graduate left fielder Ethan Iannuzzi each batted 2-for-5
• Junior right fielder Anderson Fulk doubled and scored for the Rams
• Senior lefty Christian Gordon started for the Black and Gold and threw six solid innings, innings, surrendering four hits and three runs, while striking out seven. Gordon struck out five straight batters at one juncture. He walked just two
• Junior pitcher Cade Dressler finished the last three innings for VCU and allowed one run, while striking out one
• UMass' Austin Burgess was 2-for-5, while Matt Travisano scored twice

THE STRETCH

• Weisner pinch hit to lead off the VCU ninth and roped an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence to pull the Rams within 4-2. Kleinman followed with a single to left center and Fulk was hit by a pitch to put the potential game tying runs on base for VCU. Iannuzzi rapped an RBI single two batters later to draw the Rams within a run, but VCU could get no closer
• Both squads struggled to hit in the opening frames, until the Minutemen opened the fourth with an RBI single and balk to give UMass a 2-0 lead. The Minutemen another run in the fifth
• The Rams got on the board in the bottom half of the fifth. With one out, Fulk doubled off the wall in deep right center. Moments later, sophomore centerfielder Aden Hill ripped a single to left to score Fulk
• The Minutemen added insurance run in the eighth

NEXT UP
VCU and UMass play the final game of their A-10 series on Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m. at the Diamond. The game will be streamed on ESPN+