RICHMOND, Va. – Two runs in the bottom of the ninth led VCU past the Saint Joseph's baseball team, 4-3, at The Diamond on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• VCU (7-19 overall, 2-6 Atlantic 10) took the lead in to bottom of the first after Adrian Jimenez doubled, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on a single by Will Henson.
 
• The Hawks equalized in the top of the third.  Joey Gale led off with a single and then was awarded second base after a VCU fielder left the field of play after making a catch.  Two batters later, a Joey Pagano single brought home Gale to tie the score.
 
• The Rams re-took the lead in the fourth on a fielder's choice by Casey Kleinman that scored Jimenez.
 
• Saint Joseph's (9-16 overall, 3-5 Atlantic 10) tied the game once again in the sixth, as Owen Petrich was hit by a pitch, went to third on an error, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blake Primrose.
 
• The Hawks went ahead in the top of the ninth after Aidan Duda was hit by a pitch and then lifted for pinch runner Sam Meyer, who scored on an infield single by Alex Kelsey.  But in the bottom of the frame, a leadoff walk and a single put two on with nobody out.  After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, a squeeze bunt and a sacrifice fly by Jacob Lee brought home the tying and winning runs for the Rams.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Cooper Campbell allowed a run on a hit in an inning and a third to earn the win, while Luke Parise was charged with two runs on one hit in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.
 
• Neither starter figured into the decision, as VCU's Max Moore went three innings and allowed a run on four hits and three walks.  Meanwhile, Colton Book was strong for the Hawks, allowing just two unearned runs and three hits while striking out nine and walking two in six innings.
 
• Kelsey collected a pair of hits for the Hawks.
 
UP NEXT
The series finale is set for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at The Diamond.