Score: Virginia Tech 6, VCU 5
Location: Richmond, Va. (The Diamond)
Records: VCU 12-28, Virginia Tech 26-15
 
THE SHORT STORY: VCU baseball carried a one-hitter into the eighth inning against Virginia Tech on Tuesday night, but defensive mishaps and free passes got the best of the Rams as the Hokies swept the season series with their 6-5 victory.
 
LEADING OFF:

• Nick Flores hit his second game-leadoff first-pitch home run of the year
• In both games against Virginia Tech, the Rams opened with a homer, courtesy of Jacob Lee and Flores
• Flores (41) and Lee (40) were the first two Rams to reach 40 or more hits on the season in the game
• Nick April-Gath tallied his first and second collegiate RBI in the contest, also notching a hit, a walk and a run
• Cooper Campbell had a flawless inning in his first career start, making his 18^th appearance as a Ram
• James McGrady and Riley Roarty were spotless out of the bullpen in the middle innings, going 1.1 and 1.0 innings of work, respectively, with a punchout each
• VCU outhit VT 8-3, allowing three or fewer runs for the third time this season

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Campbell opened the game a seven-pitch perfect frame in his first collegiate start
• Flores got the offense off to a quick start in the bottom of the opening frame, swinging at the first Virginia Tech offering and launching his 40^th hit of the season over the left-field wall
• Both teams put three-spots on the board in the second inning as VT drove in one run and managed a pair aided by a Rams error
• VCU compiled four hits in the second inning as Sean Swenson, Seth Werchan and April-Gath singled, the latter driving in a run, before Flores belted a double to clear the bases and reclaim the Rams' lead, 4-3
• The Hokies and Rams traded runs, as walked batters made their way around the bases for both teams over the next three frames. April-Gath's second RBI of the night drove Werchan home, and the teams closed the fifth inning with fives across the board
• McGrady and Roarty combined to retire seven-straight Hokies, taking a one-hit ballgame into the eighth inning
• VCU surrendered a full-count walk, who came around to score the go-ahead run on the Hokies second hit of the night, bringing the game to its 6-5 final score

 
UP NEXT:
VCU will remain at The Diamond for the weekend as it plays host to Fordham in a three-game Atlantic 10 series on Friday-Sunday, April 25-27.