Score: VCU 4, Fordham 0
Location: Bronx, N.Y. (Houlihan Park)
Records: VCU 29-20Â (11-7 Atlantic 10), Fordham 19-28 (10-9)
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The short story: Senior third baseman
Brandon Eike launched a two-run home run, while two VCU pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout to lead the Black and Gold in a series-opening win at Fordham Friday night.
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LEADING OFF
- Eike's blast was his ninth round-tripper of the season. He now has a team-best 47 RBIs this season
- VCU righthanders Jack Hoeymans and Brian Curley combined to spin a 5-hit shutout, while striking out 14. Hoeymans (3-2) started and tossed four scoreless innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter. Of his 65 pitches, 46 were strikes
- Curley tossed the final five frames and whiffed eight batters to earn his second save of the season. He struck out the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the VCU victory
- Four players recorded a multi-hit game for the Black and Gold, including freshman first baseman Chris McHugh, who finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored
THE STRETCH
- Senior centerfielder Cooper Benzin broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth when he went to the opposite field for an RBI single
- VCU took command in the fifth with three runs. Junior second baseman Casey Kleinman ripped a leadoff double and scored one batter later on McHugh's double. Eike followed and sent an 0-1 pitch deep into the night
- In the meantime, Hoeymans and Curley dominated. All Fordham could manage was five singles. Hoeyman loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles and a hit batter in the first, but recovered with back-to-back strikeouts to avert disaster. Just one Fordham batter advanced past second base the rest of the nightÂ
NEXT UP
VCU and Fordham will meet again on Saturday, May 11 at 2 p.m. at Houlihan Park.
