Hayden Braun, Staff Writer
VCU baseball put together one of its most complete performances of the season Tuesday night, defeating the No. 9-ranked University of Virginia 6-2 to secure its first win in the rivalry since 2022.
The Cavaliers struck immediately — third-year outfielder AJ Gracia opened the game with a leadoff home run in the top of the first to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead. However, VCU responded quickly, chipping away slowly before breaking the game open late.
The Rams tied it in the second inning when third-year infielder/outfielder Trent Adelman delivered an RBI single to score third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick. Adelman later added another key hit in the sixth, finishing with multiple hits and RBI’s.
“It all just started by my teammates. They set me up well,” Adelman said. “Not trying to do too much, just staying calm.”
VCU took control in the third inning after loading the bases with no outs. A wild pitch brought in the go-ahead run, and a sacrifice groundout from graduate student catcher Teige Lethert extended the lead to 3-1.
While the offense began to find rhythm, the pitching staff delivered in high-pressure moments. Virginia totaled 11 hits but left 14 runners on base, including two separate bases-loaded situations.
“They were really critical,” VCU head coach Sean Thompson said. “I was proud of our pitchers staying tough and having to make those pitches. We had some really big defensive plays, and the double plays were massive.”
The Rams added another crucial run in the fifth when third-year outfielder Michael Petite launched a solo home run to left field with a 111 mph exit velocity. It’s Petite’s 11th Homerun of the season, according to VCU Athletics.
Petite entered the game batting .265 with a .997 OPS.
“We’ve been really strong with trying to be on time for the fastball,” Petite said. “He either threw a cutter or slider that went over the middle, and yeah, I let it ride.”
That momentum carried into the sixth inning, where VCU delivered the decisive blow. The Rams strung together five consecutive hits, highlighted by an RBI double from Adelman and an RBI single from fifth-year utility player Dante DeFranco, extending the lead to 6-1.
“The sixth inning really came down to toughness,” Thompson said. “Guys stayed within their approach and didn’t give in.”
Virginia added its final run in the eighth on an RBI single, but the Rams bullpen closed the door in the ninth to seal the win.
Despite the early deficit, Thompson said he did not need to say anything after the leadoff home run.
“I just said I can’t believe it happened again,” Thompson said. “But I was proud of how our pitcher stayed tough in that moment.”
This win serves as a statement for a VCU team that has shown steady improvement. Thompson stated it’s also a measuring stick against one of the top programs in the country.
“They’re kind of the gold standard of baseball in the state of Virginia,” Thompson said.
For the Rams, the result was less about the opponent and more about execution.
“Big name opponent, but it doesn’t really matter. We’ve been there so many times that we just try to stay on us,” Adelman said.