TYSONS, Va. – VCU senior third baseman Brandon Eike (Powhatan, Va.) has been named Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. In all, five Rams received A-10 postseasons honors Wednesday, including sophomore pitcher Brian Curley (Midlothian, Va.) who joined Eike on First Team.
 
In addition to Eike and Curley, graduate lefty starter Christian Gordon (Agricola, Va.) was selected to the All-Atlantic 10 Conference Second Team, while freshman first baseman Chris McHugh (Commack, N.Y.) collected All-Rookie honors and junior lefthanded reliever Cade Dressler (Mifflinburg, Pa.) was named to the All-Academic Team.
 
Eike becomes the second Ram in four years to captured the league's Player of the Year honor, joining Tyler Locklear, who received the award in 2021.
 
A First Team All-Atlantic 10 pick in 2023, Eike has continued his torrid hitting in 2024. This season, the North Carolina transfer leads the A-10 in hits (81), doubles (26) and total bases (139) and is tied for second in the league in RBIs, is third in batting average (.365), fifth in slugging (.626) and sixth in on-base-percentage (.463). Eike also owns a team-high 10 home runs, and his 26 doubles is tied for the most in program single-season history. Eike batted .398 in A-10 play this season.
 
Curley is enjoying a breakout sophomore campaign for the Rams. The 5-foot-10 Midlothian native is 6-0 and ranks second in the A-10 with a 2.51 ERA in 17 appearances, all in relief, this season. In 75.1 innings, Curley has struck out 78, fourth-most in the league.
 
Gordon has also come into his own this season for VCU. The 6-foot southpaw is 6-2 in 14 starts this season with a 4.29 ERA – sixth-best in the league - in 65 innings. His 83 punchouts are tied for the conference lead.
 
McHugh has quickly solidified himself at first base for the Rams. The righthanded hitting slugger has appeared in 49 games this season and is hitting .283 with four homers and 30 RBIs, fourth-most on the team.
 
Dressler, who is majoring in Chemistry, picked up All-Academic honors on the strength of his 3.844 grade-point-average. On the mound, the junior has crafted a 3-2 record and 3.92 ERA across 36.2 innings in 13 appearances. He's also saved a pair of contests.
 
Second-seeded VCU and its quintet of A-10 honorees will return to action on Wednesday, May 22 in day two of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at 3 p.m. against Dayton at Capitol One Park in Tysons, Va.