Score: VCU 4, William & Mary 2
Location: Williamsburg, Va. (Plumeri Park)
Records: VCU 13-10, William & Mary 11-11
The short story: A career day from redshirt sophomore designated hitter Will Carlone and stellar pitching performances guided the Rams to their second straight win on the road.
FIRST PITCH
- Carlone went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two walks, and two RBIs.
- Sophomore left-hander Campbell Ellis threw 3.0 scoreless innings to start the game, striking out a pair and scattering three hits, earning his first win of the year.
- Graduate right-hander Nolan Wilson notched his second save of the season, throwing the final five outs and striking out three without allowing a run.
- Redshirt junior Evan Chenier and redshirt sophomore Jack Masloff combined for the middle 4.1 frames, each allowing one run, but both getting big shutdown innings. Masloff also struck out three batters.
- Redshirt junior first baseman Michael Haydak had a productive day at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two walks, a run, and an RBI.
- Redshirt sophomore third baseman Tyler Locklear scored two runs, while also collecting a double and a walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Rams immediately loaded the bases in the top of the first, as Haydak led off with a walk, Locklear hit a double to the gap in right center, and redshirt junior right fielder Logan Amiss was hit by a pitch. Carlone opened the scoring with a two-run double to right, scoring Haydak and Locklear.
- Graduate catcher Jacob Selden led off the fourth with a single through the right side, moved to second on a passed ball, and then to third on redshirt sophomore second baseman Ben Nippolt’s sacrifice bunt. Haydak sent an RBI single up the middle to score Selden and push the VCU advantage to 3-0.
- The Tribe pulled a run back in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI fielder’s choice.
- Chenier got a swinging strikeout to strand runners on the corners in the fourth, then followed it up with a shutdown 1-2-3 inning in the fifth.
- Locklear reached on an error on a difficult ground ball up the middle in the seventh, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak’s double down the left field line to make it 4-1.
- Masloff recorded two straight scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, with the help of an outfield assist from redshirt sophomore left fielder Cooper Benzin as a Tribe runner tried to stretch a single to a double, and a great pick and throw at third base from Locklear.
- The Tribe cut the lead to 4-2 in the eighth with an RBI single, but Wilson came out of the bullpen to get two high-leverage strikeouts to end the inning and strand two runners. After William & Mary led off the ninth with back-to-back singles, Wilson retired three straight to finish the game.
NOTABLE
- Amiss has reached base in every game this season, a streak of 23 straight.
- This was the fifth multi-RBI game of the year for Carlone, the second most on the team.
- VCU is 4-1 this year against teams from Virginia.
UP NEXT
The Rams open Atlantic 10 play with a three-game series at George Mason this weekend from April 1-3 in Fairfax, Va.
Original source can be found here.
