North Richmond Today

Score: VCU 5, East Carolina 2

Location: Greenville, N.C. (Clark-LeClair Stadium)

Records: VCU 12-10, East Carolina 14-11

The short story: The Rams rallied to score the last five runs of the game across the final three innings to take a road win against the Pirates.

FIRST PITCH

• VCU's defense was stellar, turning four double plays on the day.
• Redshirt junior first baseman Michael Haydak went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, and scored two runs.
• Sophomore left-hander Tyler Davis started the game with a career-high 5.1 innings pitched, striking out three batters without a walk, and conceding just two runs on three hits.
• Redshirt junior lefty Jaden Griffin earned his third win of the year, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.
• Redshirt senior right-hander Edwin Serrano notched his team-best third save of the season, throwing 2.0 scoreless frames to close the game. It was also his second six-out save of the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pirates opened the scoring with back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the third.
• After ECU followed the home runs with a single, Davis locked in and retired the next nine batters in order.
• Sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak led off the seventh with a single through the left side, followed by a walk to redshirt sophomore designated hitter Will Carlone. Redshirt sophomore left fielder Cooper Benzin laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up to second and third, then freshman catcher Casey Gibbs followed with a second sac bunt to score Hujsak from third and cut the lead to 2-1.
• The Rams strung together three hits for three runs to take control of the game in the eighth. Haydak led off the inning with a walk, then scored from first when redshirt sophomore third baseman Tyler Locklear sent a double down the left field line, tying the game at 2-2.
• Redshirt junior right fielder Logan Amiss then gave VCU the 3-2 lead with an RBI single to right that scored Locklear.
• After advancing to second on an error and third on a passed ball, Amiss scored an insurance run on Benzin's two-out RBI single to center.
• Haydak led off the ninth with a double to right center, then an intentional walk to Locklear and a walk to Amiss loaded the bases. Haydak hustled home from third on a passed ball to push the lead to 5-2.
• With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth, redshirt sophomore second baseman Ben Nippolt snagged a lineout, then flipped to Hujsak for a force out at second base for the game-ending double play.

NOTABLE

• Amiss has reached base in all 22 games this season, and has hits in seven straight.
• Nippolt doubled to right in the fifth, his first extra base hit as a Ram.
• Benzin extended hit hit streak to 11 games.

Original source can be found here.