2024 VCU Rams baseball team explained

Mode:	baseball
Year:	2024
Team:	VCU Rams
Conference:	Atlantic 10 Conference
Short Conf:	A-10
Record:	38–23
Conf Record:	15–8
Head Coach:	Bradley LeCroy
Hc Year:	2nd
Asst Coach1:	Andrew Cox
Ac1 Year:	2nd
Asst Coach2:	Sean Thompson
Ac2 Year:	1st
Asst Coach3:	Andrew Llewellyn
Ac3 Year:	4th
Stadium:	The Diamond
Champion:	Atlantic 10 tournament champions
Bowl:	Greenville Regional
Bowl Result:	1–2

The 2024 VCU Rams baseball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2024 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 Bradley LeCroy, in his second season with the program.

Previous season

The 2023 VCU Rams baseball team posted a 25–30 (11–13) regular season record, in their first season with LeCroy managing the team following former head coach, Shawn Stiffler's departure to coach Notre Dame.^[1] The Rams failed to qualify for the Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament, and posted their first losing overall record and their first overall losing conference record since 2011.

Preseason

Preseason Atlantic 10 awards and honors

Preseason awards will be announced in January or February 2024.

Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Team
Player	No.	Position	Class	Selector
Brandon Eike	3	INF	Senior	Perfect Game^[2]

Preseason Atlantic 10 Player of the Year
Player	No.	Position	Class	Selector
Brandon Eike	3	INF	Senior	D1Baseball^[3]

Coaches poll

The coaches poll was released on February 14, 2024. VCU was picked to finish fifth in the conference and received two first-place votes.^[4]

Coaches' Poll

1	Saint Louis	125 (3)
2	George Mason	121 (2)
3	Saint Joseph's	114 (1)
4	Davidson	113 (2)
5	VCU	97 (2)
6	Dayton	96 (1)
7	Rhode Island	77 (1)
8	Richmond	63
9	George Washington	51
10	Fordham	38
11	UMass	22
12	St. Bonaventure	19

Personnel

Starters

Lineup

Pos.	No.	Player.	Year
C	37	Nic Ericsson	RS-Senior
1B	17	Chris McHugh	Freshman
2B	13	Casey Kleinman	Junior
3B	3	Brandon Eike	Senior
SS	10	William Bean	Senior
LF	15	Ethan Iannuzzi	Graduate
CF	26	Cooper Benzin	RS-Senior
RF	22	Aden Hill	Sophomore
DH	25	Jake Thilges	RS-Junior

Weekend Pitching Rotation

Day	No.	Player.	Year
Friday	46	Campbell Ellis	Senior
Saturday	1	Christian Gordon	Senior
Sunday	39	Zachary Peters	Sophomore

Coaching staff

2024 VCU Rams baseball coaching staff
Name	Position	Seasons at VCU	Alma Mater
	Head Coach	2	Clemson University (2000)
Andrew Cox	Assistant Coach	2	Virginia Commonwealth University (2018)
Sean Thompson	Assistant Coach	1	Trevecca Nazarene University (2019)
Andrew Llewellyn	Assistant Coach	4	Wingate University (2020)

Offseason

Departures

VCU Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
	9			195lb	RS Junior		Did not return
	12			190lb	Sophomore		Transferred to Lynn
	13			165lb	RS Senior		Graduated
	16			200lb	Freshman		Transferred to Niagara CC
	17			170lb	Sophomore
	20
	21			205lb	RS Senior		Graduated
	24			185lb	Freshman		Transferred to Maryland
	27			170lb	Sophomore		Transferred to Wright State
	33			205lb	Senior		Graduated
	40			205lb	Senior		Graduated

Transfers

Incoming Transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous School
	13			170lb			Monterey Peninsula College
	14			210lb			High Point
	15			200lb			Randolph–Macon
	16			185lb			Hampden–Sydney
	21			196lb			Charlotte
	24			190lb			Louisburg
	27			210lb			Bucknell
	29			185lb			Louisburg
	32			220lb			Charlotte
	33			207lb			Florence–Darlington Tech
	34			195lb			Cincinnati
	40			180lb			El Paso CC
	42			225lb			Bucknell
	45			225lb			John A. Logan College
	52			195lb			Maryland

Signing Day Recruits

The following players signed National Letter of Intents to play for VCU in 2024.

Pitchers
Nick Frers		Argyle
Joe Gomez		Fluvanna
Aiden Milburn		Charles W. Baker
Isaiah Wyatt		Highland Springs
Hitters
Trent Adelman		PDG Academy
Will Epstein		PDG Academy
Chris McHugh		Commack
Andrew Powers		St. John's College

2023 MLB Draft

See main article: 2023 Major League Baseball draft.

No VCU players were selected in the 2023 draft.

Game log

2024 VCU Rams Baseball Game Log (38–21)
Regular Season (33–21)
February (5–4) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall A-10 Source February 16 at No. 13 * Doak Field Raleigh, North Carolina L 1–6 Highfill (1–0) Ellis (0–1) Van Dam (1) 3,016 0–1 — Report February 17 ACCNX at No. 13 NC State* Doak Field W 9–6 Dressler (1–0) Whitaker (0–1) Tappy (1) 2,885 1–1 — Report February 18 ACCNX at No. 13 NC State* Doak Field L 3–5 Marohn (1–0) Peters (0–1) Dudan (1) 2,660 1–2 — Report February 20 The Diamond Richmond, Virginia W 16–6^8 Martinez (1–0) Dittner (0–1) None 364 2–2 — Report February 23 ESPN+ The Diamond W 12–3 Peters (1–1) Healey (0–1) None 224 3–2 — Report February 24 ESPN+ Merrimack* The Diamond L 12–16 Dragon (1–1) Tappy (0–1) None 291 3–3 — Report February 25 ESPN+ Merrimack* The Diamond W 7–5 Martinez (2–0) Cassidy (0–1) None 275 4–3 — Report February 27 ACCNX at No. 17 North Carolina* Boshamer Stadium Chapel Hill, North Carolina L 2–8 Decaro (1–0) Peters (1–2) None 1,822 4–4 — Report February 28 ESPN+ The Diamond W 15–7 Tappy (1–1) French (0–1) None 210 5–4 — Report
March (13–6) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall A-10 Source March 1 ESPN+ The Diamond W 6–2 Martinez (3–0) Babuschak (0–3) None 247 6–4 — Report March 2 ESPN+ The Diamond W 10–0^7 Gordon (1–0) Mozzicato (0–1) Dressler (1) 340 7–4 — Report March 3 ESPN+ The Diamond W 10–1 Curley (1–0) McLendon (0–1) Cosentino (1) 425 8–4 — Report March 7 vs. * Fluor Field Greenville, South Carolina W 9–7^11 Tappy (2–1) Berg (1–2) None 150 9–4 — Report March 7 YouTube vs. * Fluor Field W 5–2 Curley (2–0) Mortenson (0–1) Cosentino (2) 150 10–4 — Report March 10 YouTube vs. * Fluor Field W 8–4 Gordon (2–0) Matheny (0–2) None 1,237 11–4 — Report March 12 ESPN+ at Longwood* Buddy Bolding Stadium Farmville, Virginia L 0–4 Saale (1–0) McGrady (0–1) Warunek (1) 286 11–5 — Report March 15 ESPN+ The Diamond W 11–7 Curley (3–0) Sword (1–1) None 300 12–5 — Report March 16 ESPN+ Princeton* The Diamond W 7–1 Gordon (3–0) Kim (1–2) Dressler (2) 300 13–5 — Report March 16 ESPN+ Princeton* The Diamond W 6–3 Tappy (3–1) Gilman (0–1) None 300 14–5 — Report March 17 ESPN+ Princeton* The Diamond L 11–15 Faulkner (1–1) Hoeymans (0–1) None 350 14–6 — Report March 19 ESPN+ at * Liberty Baseball Stadium Lynchburg, Virginia W 8–7 Peters (2–2) Dolby (0–3) Tappy (2) 838 15–6 — Report March 22 at * J. Page Hayden Field Cincinnati, Ohio L 6–7 Hoskins (3–3) Vaughan (0–1) Vera (2) 104 15–7 — Report March 23 FloBaseball at Xavier* J. Page Hayden Field L 5–9 Schmidt (3–2) Dressler (1–1) Kelly (3) 112 15–8 — Report March 24 FloBaseball at Xavier* J. Page Hayden Field W 10–5 Curley (4–0) Boyle (3–1) None 250 16–8 — Report March 26 ESPN+ The Diamond L 3–6 Knowles (3–0) Vaughan (0–2) None 476 16–9 — Report March 28 ESPN+ The Diamond W 7–6 Tappy (4–1) Jensen (0–2) None 175 17–9 1–0 Report March 29 ESPN+ UMass The Diamond L 3–4 Lints (1–0) Gordon (3–1) Powers (1) 174 17–10 1–1 Report March 30 ESPN+ UMass The Diamond W 7–1 Curley (5–0) O'Connor (1–4) None 358 18–10 2–1 Report
April (9–7) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall A-10 Source April 2 FloBaseball at William & Mary* Plumeri Park Williamsburg, Virginia W 9–5 Cosentino (1–0) Lottchea (2–1) None 619 19–10 — Report April 5 ESPN+ The Diamond W 10–8 Tappy (5–1) Ban (1–1) None 222 20–10 3–1 Report April 6 ESPN+ Davidson The Diamond W 7–4 Dressler (2–1) Fix (1–2) None 201 21–10 4–1 Report April 7 ESPN+ Davidson The Diamond W 6–1 Cosentino (2–0) Feczko (2–5) None 362 22–10 5–1 Report April 9 ACCNX at No. 11 Virginia* Davenport Field Charlottesville, Virginia L 4–8 Hungate (3–0) Ellis (0–2) None 3,281 22–11 — Report April 12 ESPN+ at Fred Handler Park Olean, New York L 5–7 Ciampa (1–2) Peters (2–3) None 172 22–12 5–2 Report April 13 ESPN+ at St. Bonaventure Fred Handler Park W 5–0 Gordon (4–1) Czajkowski (2–3) None 305 23–12 6–2 Report April 14 ESPN+ at St. Bonaventure Fred Handler Park L 6–11 Roggenburk (2–0) Everett (0–3) None 315 23–13 6–3 Report April 16 ESPN+ Liberty* The Diamond W 2–1 Hoeymans (1–1) Swink (0–1) Tappy (3) 324 24–13 — Report April 19 ESPN+ The Diamond L 1–5 Majick (4–2) Cosentino (2–1) Wissman (6) 361 24–14 6–4 Report April 20 ESPN+ Dayton The Diamond W 8–3 Gordon (5–1) Peguero (1–4) None 407 25–14 7–4 Report April 21 ESPN+ Dayton The Diamond Canceled (inclement weather) 25–14 7–4 Report April 23 ESPN+ at * Bud Metheny Field Norfolk, Virginia L 1–7 Sulpizio (1–0) Hoeymans (1–2) None 583 25–15 — Report April 26 ESPN+ Spuhler Field Fairfax, Virginia W 6–4 Tappy (6–1) Stewart (1–2) None 135 26–15 8–4 Report April 27 ESPN+ at George Mason Spuhler Field L 2–3 Gartland (2–3) Gordon (5–2) None 224 26–16 8–5 Report April 28 ESPN+ at George Mason Spuhler Field W 9–8 Tappy (7–1) Edmonds (1–2) None 390 27–16 9–5 Report April 30 ESPN+ No. 11 Virginia* The Diamond L 4–8 Moore (2–0) Peters (2–4) Teel (5) 3,689 27–17 — Report
May (6–4) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall A-10 Source May 3 ESPN+ The Diamond W 6–2 Hoeymans (2–2) Brennan (1–4) Curley (1) 532 28–17 10–5 Report May 4 ESPN+ George Washington The Diamond L 8–12 Siegenthaler (5–2) Dressler (2–2) Wilson (4) 625 28–18 10–6 Report May 5 ESPN+ George Washington The Diamond L 6–11 Haug (3–1) Tappy (7–2) None 323 28–19 10–7 Report May 7 ESPN+ Old Dominion* The Diamond L 8–14 Kellen (4–0) Goleski (0–1) None 683 28–20 — Report May 8 ESPN+ at No. 10 * Clark-LeClair Stadium Greenville, North Carolina Canceled (scheduling conflict) 28–20 — Report May 10 at Houlihan Park The Bronx, New York W 4–0 Hoeymans (3–2) Lavelle (6–5) Curley (2) 116 29–20 11–7 Report May 11 at Fordham Houlihan Park W 4–3 Martinez (4–0) Berg (5–6) Tappy (4) 326 30–20 12–7 Report May 12 at Fordham Houlihan Park W 8–3 Vaughan (1–3) Perez (1–2) None 187 31–20 13–7 May 16 ESPN+ at Malcolm U. Pitt Field Richmond, Virginia L 10–12 Hentschel (4–1) Nuckols (0–1) None 308 31–21 13–8 Report May 17 ESPN+ at Richmond Malcolm U. Pitt Field W 11–4 Gordon (6–2) Roche (3–8) None 276 32–21 14–8 Report May 18 ESPN+ at Richmond Malcolm U. Pitt Field W 12–4 Dressler (3–2) Corso (1–2) None 215 33–21 15–8 Report
Postseason (5–0)
(4–0) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall A10T Record Source May 21 ESPN+ (2) Capital One Park Tysons, Virginia W 4–2 Curley (6–0) Yablonski (4–5) Tappy (5) 301 34–21 1–0 Report May 22 ESPN+ vs. (3) Dayton (2) Capital One Park W 11–3 Hoeymans (4–2) Majick (5–5) None 464 35–21 2–0 Report May 23 ESPN+ vs. (4) Richmond (2) Capital One Park W 13–7 Gordon (7–2) Ymker (1–3) None 1,035 36–21 3–0 Report May 25 ESPN+ vs. (4) Richmond (2) Capital One Park W 16–1 Cosentino (3–1) Hentschel (4–2) None 1,152 37–21 4–0 Report
(1–0) Date TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall NCAAT Record Source May 31 vs. (2) No. 22 Wake Forest* (3) Clark-LeClair Stadium W 1–0 Gordon (8–2) Falco Jr. (2–5) Curley (3) 5,571 38–21 1–0 Report June 1 ESPN+ vs. (4) * (3) Clark-LeClair Stadium
Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = Canceled Bold =VCU team member Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.^[5]

Schedule Notes

Tournaments

Atlantic 10 tournament

See also: 2024 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament.

NCAA tournament

See also: 2024 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

Rankings

See main article: 2024 NCAA Division I baseball rankings.

External links

• VCU Baseball

Notes and References

1. Web site: Stires . Sean . It's Official: Notre Dame Hires Shawn Stiffler As Its New Baseball Coach . . November 19, 2022 . July 12, 2022.
2. Web site: Sutherland . Troy . Conference Preview: Atlantic 10 . perfectgame.org . February 18, 2024.
3. Web site: Eike Named A-10 Preseason POTY by D1Baseball . vcuathletics.com . February 18, 2024 . February 14, 2024.
4. Web site: Saint Louis Picked to as Atlantic 10 Baseball Preseason Favorites . Atlantic 10 . February 18, 2024 . February 14, 2024.
5. Web site: 2024 Baseball Schedule . vcuathletics.com . January 8, 2024.