2021 VCU Rams baseball team explained

Year:	2021
Team:	VCU Rams
Sport:	baseball
Conference:	Atlantic 10 Conference
Short Conf:	A-10
Cbrank:	27
Record:	38–16
Conf Record:	13–3
Head Coach:	Shawn Stiffler
Hc Year:	9th
Asst Coach1:	Mike McRae
Ac1 Year:	4th
Asst Coach2:	Rich Witten
Ac2 Year:	4th
Asst Coach3:	Josh Tutwiler
Ac3 Year:	6th
Stadium:	The Diamond
Champion:	Atlantic 10 regular season champion Atlantic 10 Southern Division champion Atlantic 10 tournament champions
Tourney:	NCAA tournament
Tourney Result:	Starkville Regional

The 2021 VCU Rams baseball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Rams played their home games at The Diamond as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They were led by head coach Shawn Stiffler, in his 9th season at VCU.

VCU qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015, and received their highest seeding (2) since 2001. They were eliminated in the Regional, with a final record of 38–16, including a program record 22-game win streak.

Previous season

The 2020 VCU Rams baseball team notched a 9–8 (0–0) regular season record. The season prematurely ended on March 12, 2020, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Player movement

Departures

VCU Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
Michael Dailey	30			170			Graduated
Paul Witt	2			170			Graduated
Brett Willett	3	INF		190			Graduated

Signing Day Recruits

The following players signed National Letter of Intents to play for VCU in 2021.^[1]

Pitchers
Tyler Davis	Yorktown, Virginia	Menchville HS
Campbell Ellis	Georgetown, Ontario	Christ the King SS
Trent Goodman	Ashland, Virginia	Homeschooled
Braedin Hunt	Old Bridge, New Jersey	Christian Brothers Academy
Justin Humenay	Beaconsfield, Quebec	Taft School
Hitters
Griffin Boone	Montclair, Virginia	Forest Park HS
Tyler Coy	Williamsville, New York	Canisius HS
Jared Glinski	Lynchburg, Virginia	Brookville HS
Connor Hujsak	Goffstown, New Hampshire	Goffstown HS

Preseason

Coaches Poll

The Atlantic 10 baseball coaches' poll was released on February 18, 2021. VCU was picked to win the Atlantic 10 regular season championship.^[2]

Coaches' Poll
1	VCU	151 (4)
2	Fordham	149 (4)
3	Dayton	146 (4)
4	Davidson	117
5	Saint Louis	114 (1)
6	Richmond	109
7	Rhode Island	103
8	George Washington	74
9	Saint Joseph's	71
10	George Mason	46
11	La Salle	40
12	St. Bonaventure	32
13	UMass	31

Personnel

Coaching Staff

2021 VCU Rams baseball coaching staff
Name	Position	Seasons at VCU	Alma Mater
	Head Coach	9	George Mason University (2001)
	Assistant Coach	4	Niagara University (1993)
Rich Witten	Assistant Coach	4	Coastal Carolina University (2012)
Josh Tutwiler	Assistant Coach	6	Old Dominion University (2012)

Game log

Legend
	VCU win
	VCU loss
	Postponement/cancellation
	Extra innings
	Non-conference game
Bold	VCU team member
†	Make-Up Game

2021 VCU Rams baseball game log (38–16)
Regular season (34–14)
February (1–5) Date Time (ET) TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Atlantic 10 Sources February 20 4:00 p.m. SDN at UNCW* Brooks Field Wilmington, North Carolina L 4–5 Benton (1–0) Watson (0–1) — 100 0–1 — Stats Report February 21 1:00 p.m. SDN at UNCW* Brooks Field L 1–4 Gessell (1–0) Sorokowski (0–1) Benton (1) 100 0–2 — Stats Report February 22 4:30 p.m. SDN at UNCW* Brooks Field L 5–9 Hudak (1–0) Davis (0–1) Smith (1) 100 0–3 — Stats Report February 27 12:30 p.m. YouTube at Elon* Latham Park Elon, North Carolina L 6–7 Sprake (1–0) Serrano (0–1) — 65 0–4 — Stats Report February 27 5:00 p.m. YouTube at Elon* Latham Park W 4–3 Davis (1–1) Greenler (0–3) — 65 1–4 — Stats Report February 28 1:00 p.m. YouTube at Elon* Latham Park L 7–8 Sprake (2–0) Watson (0–2) — 65 1–5 — Stats Report
March (12–5) Date Time (ET) TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Atlantic 10 Sources March 2 3:00 p.m. ESPN+ VMI The Diamond Richmond, Virginia W 10–8 Ellis (1–0) Menders (0–1) - 215 2–5 - Stats Report March 5 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ at VMI* Gray–Minor Stadium Lexington, Virginia W 17–2 Watson (1–2) Light (0–2) - 86 3–5 - Stats Report March 6 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ Central Michigan The Diamond W 12–11 Davis (2–1) Palmbland (0–1) Serrano (1) 252 4–5 - Stats Report March 7 3:00 p.m. ESPN+ at VMI* Gray–Minor Stadium W 18–7 Chenier (1–0) Capehart (0–1) — 106 5–5 - Stats Report March 9 4:00 p.m. ACCNX at No. 18 Virginia Tech* English Field Blacksburg, Virginia L 9–10 Siverling (2–0) Ward (0–1) - 1,000 5–6 - Stats Report March 10 3:00 p.m. ACCNX at No. 18 Virginia Tech* English Field W 10–7 Webb (1–0) Ritchey (0–1) — 780 6–6 - Stats Report March 12 6:30 p.m. ESPN+ Towson The Diamond W 14–9 Chenier (2–0) Seils (1–3) — 217 7–6 — Stats Report March 13 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ Towson* The Diamond L 7–8 Clark (1–0) Serrano (0–2) Bolt (1) 228 7–7 - Stats Report March 14 1:00 p.m. ESPN+ Towson* The Diamond W 5–1 Ellis (2–0) Madden (0–1) Davis (1) 200 8–7 - Stats Report March 17 3:00 p.m. CUSA.tv at No. 25 Old Dominion* Metheny Field Norfolk, Virginia W 12–5 Webb (2–0) Vaks (1–1) - 211 9–7 - Stats Report March 19 4:00 p.m. ESPN+ Liberty The Diamond Postponed (inclement weather), makeup date April 3 9–7 - March 20 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Liberty* Liberty Baseball Stadium Lynchburg, Virginia L 2–3 Riley (1–0) Watson (1–3) - 528 9–8 - Stats Report March 21 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ Liberty* The Diamond L 1–6 Gibson (3–2) Dailey (0–1) - 282 9–9 - Stats Report March 23 6:00 p.m. ESPN+ No. 22 Old Dominion* The Diamond L 3–5 Dobzanski (1–0) Serrano (0–3) Dean (2) 197 9–10 - Stats Report March 26 4:00 p.m. ESPN+ at William & Mary* Plumeri Park Williamsburg, Virginia W 8–6 Davis (4–1) Strain (2–2) Chenier (1) 133 10–10 - Stats Report March 27 1:00 p.m. ESPN3 William & Mary* The Diamond W 6–3 Ellis (3–0) Haney (0–2) Watson (1) 273 11–10 - Stats Recap March 27 4:30 p.m. ESPN3 William & Mary* The Diamond W 9–4 Ward (1–1) Pearson (1–2) - 273 12–10 - Box Score Recap March 30 5:00 p.m. YouTube at Elon* Latham Park W 6–3 Chenier (3–0) Simon (0–4) Davis (2) 65 13–10 - Box Score Recap
April (11–4) Date Time (ET) TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Atlantic 10 Sources April 2 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Liberty* Liberty Baseball Stadium L 3–9 Erickson (6–1) Ellis (3–1) - 187 13–11 - Stats Report April 3 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ Liberty* The Diamond W 4–2 Davis (5–1) Gibson (4–3) Chenier (2) 197 14–11 - Stats Report April 7 6:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Georgetown* Shirley Povich Field Bethesda, Maryland W 13–4 Griffin (1–0) Weeks (0–1) — 0 15–11 — Stats Report April 9 3:00 p.m. ESPN+ at George Washington Barcroft Park Arlington, Virginia W 6–4 Davis (6–1) Pfluger (0–1) Chenier (3) 0 16–11 1–0 Stats Report April 10 12:15 p.m. ESPN+ at George Washington Barcroft Park L 4–5 Cohen (3–1) Webb (1–1) — 0 16–12 1–1 Stats Report April 10 4:00 p.m. ESPN+ at George Washington Barcroft Park L 2–3 Kuncl (2–0) Serrano (0–4) — 0 16–13 1–2 Stats Report April 11 12:00 p.m. ESPN+ at George Washington Barcroft Park L 4–5 Kahler (1–0) Watson (1–4) Kuncl (3) 0 16–14 1–3 Stats Report April 13 6:00 p.m. at William & Mary* Plumeri Park W 8–3 Serrano (1–4) Mack (0–1) — 188 17–14 - Stats Report April 16 6:30 p.m. ESPN+ Davidson The Diamond W 14–3 Webb (2–1) Levy (4–3) Griffin (1) 233 18–14 2–3 Stats Report April 17 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ Davidson The Diamond W 9–8 Davis (7–1) Peaden (3–2) — 354 19–14 3–3 Stats Report April 17 5:00 p.m. ESPN+ Davidson The Diamond W 5–1 Furman (1–0) Peaden (3–3) Chenier (4) 354 20–14 4–3 Stats Report April 18 1:00 p.m. ESPN+ Davidson The Diamond W 3–1 Serrano (2–4) Fenton (1–5) Ellis (1) 218 21–14 5–3 Stats Report April 20 7:00 p.m. ESPN+ Virginia The Diamond W 5–3 Griffin (2–0) McGarry (0–5) Davis (3) 971 22–14 - Stats Report April 23 6:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Richmond Pitt Field Tuckahoe, Virginia Canceled (COVID-19 protocols) 22–14 5–3 Report April 24 1:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Richmond Pitt Field 22–14 5–3 April 24 4:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Richmond Pitt Field 22–14 5–3 April 25 1:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Richmond Pitt Field 22–14 5–3 April 27 6:30 p.m. ESPN+ VMI* The Diamond W 15–5 Ward (2–1) Ewald (0–2) — 394 23–14 - Stats Report April 30 6:30 p.m. ESPN+ George Mason The Diamond W 9–2 Webb (3–1) Lyons (4–2) Davis (4) 285 24–14 6–3 Stats Recap
May (10–0) Date Time (ET) TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Atlantic 10 Sources May 1 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ George Mason The Diamond W 3–1 Watson (2–4) Versaw-Barnes (1–5) Chenier (5) 302 25–14 7–3 Stats Report May 1 5:00 p.m. ESPN+ George Mason The Diamond W 8–1 Ellis (4–1) Cabone (0–2) — 302 26–14 8–3 Stats Report May 2 1:00 p.m. ESPN+ George Mason The Diamond W 11–2 Delane (1–0) Stoudemire (1–8) — 640 27–14 9–3 Stats Report May 4 6:00 p.m. ACCNX at Virginia* Davenport Field Charlottesville, Virginia W 7–5 Serrano (3–4) Schoch (2–1) Davis (5) 474 28–14 - Stats Report May 7 1:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Saint Louis Billiken Sports Center St. Louis, Missouri W 14–6 Delane (2–0) Harris (4–3) — 85 29–14 10–3 Stats Report May 7 4:45 p.m. ESPN+ at Saint Louis Billiken Sports Center W 19–4 Davis (8–1) Fremion (2–1) — 60 30–14 11–3 Stats Report May 8 3:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Saint Louis Billiken Sports Center W 9–8 Ellis (5–1) Surin (0–1) — 55 31–14 12–3 Stats Report May 8 6:00 p.m. ESPN+ at Saint Louis Billiken Sports Center W 16–5 Masloff (1–0) Youngbrandt (2–6) — 45 32–14 13–3 Stats Report May 14 6:30 p.m. ESPN+ Dayton No. 28 The Diamond Canceled (COVID-19 protocols) 32–14 13–3 Report May 15 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ Dayton No. 28 The Diamond 32–14 13–3 May 15 5:00 p.m. ESPN+ Dayton No. 28 The Diamond 32–14 13–3 May 16 1:00 p.m. ESPN+ Dayton No. 28 The Diamond 32–14 13–3 May 20 6:00 p.m. at James Madison* No. 28 Veterans Memorial Park Harrisonburg, Virginia W 20–18 Davis (9–1) Landess (1–1) — 250 33–14 - Stats Report May 21 6:00 p.m. at James Madison* No. 28 Veterans Memorial Park Harrisonburg, Virginia W 10–1 Ward (3–1) McDonnell (1–3) — 250 34–14 - Stats Report
Post-season (4–2)
(3–0) Date Time (ET) TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall A10T Record Sources May 27 12:00 p.m. ESPN+ (4) Saint Joseph's No. 28 (1) The Diamond W 15–4 Delane (3–0) McCole (2–4) — 821 35–14 1–0 [Stats] [Report] May 28 11:00 a.m. ESPN+ (3) Rhode Island No. 28 (1) The Diamond W 10–4 Serrano (4–4) Janglos (2–3) — 678 36–14 2–0 [Stats] [Report] May 29 12:00 p.m. ESPN+ (2) Dayton No. 28 (1) The Diamond W 7–6 Masloff (2–0) Wolfe (4–6) Chenier (6) 728 37–14 3–0 [Stats] [Report]
(1–2) Date Time (ET) TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall NCAAT Record Sources June 4 8:00 p.m. vs. (3) Campbell No. 27 (2) Dudy Noble Field W 19–4 Ellis (6–1) Harrington (6–3) — 7,577 38–14 1–0 Stats Report June 5 9:25 p.m. ESPN3 at (1) No. 8 Mississippi State No. 27 (2) Dudy Noble Field L 4–16 MacLeod (6–4) Delane (3–1) — 10,011 38–15 1–1 Stats Report June 6 7:00 p.m. ESPN3 vs. (3) Campbell No. 27 (2) Dudy Noble Field L 10–19 Cummings (2–2) Davis (9–2) — 7,498 38–16 1–2 Box Score Report *Denotes non–conference game • Schedule source • Rankings based on the teams' current ranking in the Collegiate Baseball poll • (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.|} Tournaments Atlantic 10 Tournament See also: 2021 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Tournament. NCAA Starkville Regional Rankings See main article: 2021 NCAA Division I baseball rankings. Awards and honors Atlantic 10 Conference Weekly Awards Player Award Date Awarded Ref. Sonny Ulliana Player of the Week April 26, 2021 ^[4] Addison Kopack Rookie of the Week Xavier Vargas Player of the Week May 3, 2021 ^[5] All-A10 Player Position Team OF 1 RHP 1 Reference:^[6] External links VCU Baseball

Notes and References

1. Web site: VCU - Perfect Game Player College Commitments . perfectgame.org . March 12, 2021.
2. Web site: Fordham Picked Second in Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll . fordhamsports.com . February 23, 2021 . February 18, 2021.
3. Web site: Official Baseball Roster. VCU Rams. February 20, 2021.
4. Web site: Ulliana Named A-10 Baseball Player of the Week; Mikulski Earns Pitcher; Kopack Rookie Honors . Atlantic10.com . Atlantic 10 Conference . June 1, 2021 . April 26, 2021.
5. Web site: #A10BASE Weekly Awards Announced. Atlantic10.com . Atlantic 10 Conference . June 1, 2021 . May 3, 2021.
6. Web site: Locklear, Mikulski, Miller, Win Major A-10 Awards; 41 Players Selected for Baseball Honors . Atlantic10.com . Atlantic 10 Conference . May 26, 2021 . June 1, 2021.