Game One Score: VCU 14, Holy Cross 1
Game Two Score: VCU 19, Holy Cross 7
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 3-0, Holy Cross 0-3
 
Combining for 33 runs scored and 40 strikeouts on the mound VCU opened its 2026 season with a perfect 3-0 record, completing the series sweep with a pair Saturday doubleheader victories, 14-1, 19-7.
 
LEADING OFF:

• Hunter Gotschall (3.0 IP), Nick Frers (2.0), Everett Vaughan (1.0) and Cade Dressler (1.0) each made scoreless appearances without allowing a hit
• Patrick Steitz made a five-strikeout, 5.0-inning start in his VCU debut, allowing just two hits and a run to earn the win in game two
• Nick Flores and Nate Kirkpatrick each had four hits in the series finale
• Michael Petite had a two-home run game in the night cap
• Freshman outfielder Brendan Horne had three hits, including a home run and triple in the doubleheader
• Everett Vaughan and Elias Holbert each made their first appearances since 2024, returning from Tommy John surgery
• For the first time since 2011 and the 12^th time in program history, VCU went undefeated through its first three games
• VCU had the first three-game stretch of 10+ strikeouts since 2024 with 17 strikeouts in Friday's opener and 10 and 13 strikeouts in Saturday's contests, respectively
• The Rams' 40 combined strikeouts were the most in a weekend series since their 40 against Rhode Island on March 31-April 5, 2018 and the most in any three-game stretch since they had 42 in 2019

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One

• VCU jumped out to a 12-run lead in the first three innings, highlighted by a six-spot in the second frame which featured three home runs by Horne, Jacob Lee and Kirkpatrick
• Out of the bullpen, Frers was perfect through two innings, facing the minimum with a game-high four strikeouts to keep the shutout intact
• Back-to-back RBI doubles from Dante DeFranco and Kirkpatrick extended the Rams' lead to 14-0
• Holy Cross secured its first base knock in the sixth inning and scratched across the lone run in the top of the seventh
• VCU captured the series with a commanding 14-1 victory in the first game

Game Two

• The first three innings of game two matched the pitchers' duel pace of the series opener, as Holy Cross' sacrifice bunt and Petite's home run kept the game tied at 1-1
• VCU opened the floodgates in the fourth inning when Horne's bases-loaded triple ignited a five-run outburst
• Kirkpatrick singled in a pair of runs and came around to score in the sixth frame, working up a 9-1 VCU lead
• The Crusaders scored six runs in the next two frames, but VCU had a 10-run answer, tacking on eight more hits
• Dressler had a three up, three down inning, ending the game with his 99^th career strikeout
• VCU extended its win streak to six games dating back to its final series last season

 
UP NEXT
The Rams will travel to Conway, S.C., for a four-game slate with Illinois and 2025 Men's College World Series Runner-Up No. 6 Coastal Carolina next weekend in the Baseball at the Beach tournament.