Game One: VCU 12, Saint Louis 1
Game Two: VCU 5, Saint Louis 1
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 25-20 (14-9), Saint Louis 17-29 (8-15)
For the second and third times in its last four games VCU baseball allowed just one run to score on its pitching staff. In the series-clinching second game, three Rams arms combined for VCU's second one-hitter of the season, while the Rams offense manufactured 17 runs across two games, taking down the Billikens 12-1 and 5-1.
LEADING OFF:
- For the first time since 2018, VCU has multiple games with just one hit allowed
- Patrick Steitz and Elias Holbert were the winning pitchers for VCU
- Nate Kirkpatrick in game one and Jacob Lee in game two each tallied three hits
- In game one, Quinn Maher belted his fifth and the Rams' 49th home run
- Michael Petite (2), Dante DeFranco and Trent Adelman all recorded multi-hit games
- DeFranco's three RBI in game one tied his career best
- The bullpen didn't allow any runs as Cooper Campbell tossed 2.0 innings of one-hit ball in the opener and Dawson Newman and Zach Peters each dealt a hitless frame in game two
- Holbert set a Division I career high with his 7.0 innings of work, fanning four Billikens while allowing just one unearned run
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Game One
- The Rams erupted for five runs in the first two innings of the series, getting on the board in both innings on RBI base hits from Petite, a run-scoring out from Nick Flores and heads up baserunning on a SLU defensive
- Steitz carried his shutout through the sixth inning, where VCU extended to a 7-0 lead on a two-run single by DeFranco
- Saint Louis spoiled the shutout in the seventh frame with its lone run of the contest but the Rams answered with five more runs over the final two frames, including a Kirkpatrick double off the wall and Maher's two-run shot
- Campbell shut down the Billikens in the final two innings for VCU to take its 12-1 victory in the series opener
Game Two
- SLU's only run of the second contest was scored in the first inning, aided by a passed ball, but VCU returned the favor in the second by taking its 2-1 lead on wild pitches
- A two-out rally in the third inning featured two walks and three base knocks to work the Rams' lead up to 5-1
- The remainder of the contest was quiet as Holbert extended his no-hitter into the sixth inning before surrendering the lone hit of the nightcap before Newman and Peters preserved the one-hit victory
- The Rams prevailed in their first Atlantic 10 weekend series victory since sweeping Fordham on the road in April
UP NEXT
VCU will conclude the series against Saint Louis at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 3 at The Diamond. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+.
