Score: VCU 4, La Salle 3
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 10-8, La Salle 9-9
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Quinn Maher lifted a fly ball to center field to walk off VCU baseball's fifth consecutive win and secure the opening Atlantic 10 weekend series, 4-3.
Patrick Steitz twirled a gem, giving VCU seven innings of one-hit ball in his start.
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LEADING OFF:
- Steitz set Division I career highs with both his 7.0 innings pitched and seven strikeouts, allowing just three baserunners in his outing
- Maher drove in three of the Rams' four runs, two on his first home run of the year and one with a walk-off sacrifice fly
- Zach Peters was credited with the victory, striking out three Explorers and allowing one hit out of the bullpen
- Nate Kirkpatrick drove in Jacob Lee for VCU's first run of the game
- Lee and Teige Lethert had the other hits for the Rams
- The Rams have not given up more than three runs in any game during their five-game win streak. Surrendering just three runs today, VCU had its ninth contest with three or fewer runs allowed this season
- VCU allowed just four hits, its fewest since giving up three in its victory over Illinois on Feb. 21
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Kirkpatrick opened VCU's scoring with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning and Maher extended the Rams' lead to 3-0 with a two-run home run in the second frame
- Steitz carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning on Saturday, allowing just two baserunners across hit first five frames
- La Salle evened the game at 3-3 with a three-run home run off the bat of Carter Groen in the top of the ninth to put pressure on the Rams
- Peters entered the game and struck out the side, limited the damage to three runs and allowing VCU to come to the plate with a tie in the bottom of the ninth
- Lee drew a walk to lead off the ninth inning and rounded to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Kirkpatrick and a balk, before Maher put the winning ball in play to score Lee on a sacrifice fly
- VCU extended its winning streak to five games, picking up its sixth win over the last seven contests
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UP NEXT
VCU will go for the sweep as it concludes its A-10 opening weekend against the Explorers at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 15 at The Diamond. The series finale will be broadcast on ESPN+.