2015 VCU Rams baseball team

2015 VCU Rams baseball
A10 Tournament champions NCAA Dallas Regional champions
NCAA Coral Gables Super Regional, L, 0–2
Conference	Atlantic 10 Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 15
AP	No. 18
Record	40–25 (14–10 A-10)
Head coach	Shawn Stiffler (4th season)
Assistant coaches	Kurt Elbin (3rd season) Steve Hay (1st season) ML Morgan (1st season)
Home stadium	The Diamond
Seasons ←  2014 2016  →

2015 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball standings

v t e	Conf									Overall
Team	W		L		T		PCT			W		L		T		PCT
Saint Louis  ‍†‍‍	16	–	8	–	0		.667			35	–	21	–	0		.625
Richmond  ‍‍‍	15	–	9	–	0		.625			28	–	25	–	0		.528
Rhode Island  ‍‍‍	15	–	9	–	0		.625			26	–	25	–	1		.510
No. 15 VCU  ‍‍‡‍y	14	–	10	–	0		.583			40	–	25	–	0		.615
Davidson  ‍‍‍	14	–	10	–	0		.583			28	–	22	–	0		.560
George Washington  ‍‍‍	13	–	10	–	0		.565			32	–	22	–	0		.593
Fordham  ‍‍‍	13	–	11	–	0		.542			22	–	32	–	0		.407
La Salle  ‍‍‍	12	–	12	–	0		.500			24	–	27	–	1		.471
George Mason  ‍‍‍	12	–	12	–	0		.500			23	–	27	–	1		.461
UMass  ‍‍‍	12	–	12	–	0		.500			16	–	27	–	0		.372
Saint Joseph's  ‍‍‍	11	–	12	–	0		.478			21	–	28	–	0		.429
Dayton  ‍‍‍	5	–	19	–	0		.208			16	–	38	–	0		.296
St. Bonaventure  ‍‍‍	3	–	21	–	0		.125			16	–	28	–	2		.370
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 2015 [1] Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

The 2015 VCU Rams baseball team was the program's 45th season fielding a varsity baseball program, and their third season the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Led by Shawn Stiffler for his third season, the Rams had their most successful baseball season in program history. The Rams advanced to the NCAA Super Regional for the first time ever, and won their first ever Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament. It was the program's return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010.

Personnel

2015 roster

2015 VCU Rams Roster [2]
	Pitchers 13 - Matt Lees - Junior 14 - Logan Kanuik - Senior 16 - Michael Carpenter - Sophomore 20 - Seth Greene - RS Senior 23 - Matt Jamer - Freshman 30 - Brian Goodling - Freshman 31 - Tyler Buckley - Junior 32 - Daniel Concepcion - Junior 33 - Dan Black - Sophomore 34 - Matt Blanchard - Junior 35 - Heath Dwyer - Junior 37 - Thomas Gill - Junior 38 - Jordan Storey - RS Senior 40 - JoJo Howie - Junior		Infielders 4 - Joey Cujas - Junior 10 - Tom Crimi - Senior 15 - Darian Carpenter - Freshman 17 - Matt Davis - Freshman 18 - Bryce Lee - Senior 25 - Vimael Machin - Junior 26 - Trevor Marino - Senior 27 - Shane Dressler - Freshman Utility 8 - Logan Farrar - Freshman		Catchers 7 - Chris Ayers - Senior 11 - Walker Haymaker - Sophomore 19 - Brett Hileman - Freshman 21 - Nick Octavi - Senior 24 - Joe Bugas - Freshman Outfielders 1 - James Bunn - Sophomore 2 - Bill Cullen - Senior 3 - Landon Prentiss - Senior 9 - Cody Acker - Sophomore 12 - Alex Gransback - Freshman

Schedule

Legend
	VCU win
	VCU loss
	Postponement
*	Non-conference game
(10)	Extra inning where game was decided
(D-2)	Tournament seed

2015 VCU Rams baseball game log [3]
Regular season (33–22)
February (2–5) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record A10 record Winston-Salem Series February 13 vs. Georgetown* David F. Couch Ballpark Winston-Salem, North Carolina W 6–3 Dwyer (1–0) Hollenback (0–1) Concepcion (1) 128 1–0 — February 14 at Wake Forest* David F. Couch Ballpark L 0–1 Dunshee (1–0) Howie (0–1) Fossas (1) 718 1–1 — February 17 at Virginia* Duel at the Diamond Davenport Field Charlottesville, Virginia Postponed (inclement weather) — Myrtle Beach Invitational February 21 vs. Bucknell* Griffith Field Myrtle Beach, South Carolina L 1–5 Hough (2–0) Dwyer (1–1) Castellani (1) 35 1–2 — February 21 (DH) vs. Bucknell Griffith Field L 4–6 Hammond (1–0) Blanchard (0–1) none 43 1–3 — February 22 vs. Bucknell Griffith Field L 2–3 Gambon (1–0) Howie (0–2) Rafferty (1) 82 1–4 — February 27 vs. Pitt* Griffith Field W 5–4 Concepcion (1–0) Harris (0–1) none 127 2–4 — February 28 vs. Pitt* Griffith Field L 1–6 Sandefur (1–0) Blanchard (0–2) none 105 2–5 —
March Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record A10 record Myrtle Beach Invitational March 1 vs. Pitt* Griffith Field W 3–2 Lees (1–0) Mattson (0–1) none 96 3–5 — March 4 at No. 16 North Carolina* Boshamer Stadium Chapel Hill, North Carolina L 5–6 Raquet (1–0) Thompson (0–1) none 872 3–6 — March 6 at Jacksonville* John Sessions Stadium Jacksonville, Florida L 1–2 Disch (1–0) Gill (0–1) none 85 3–7 — March 7 at Jacksonville* John Sessions Stadium W 4–3 Howie (1–2) Tanner (1–2) Concepcion (2) 179 4–7 — March 8 at Jacksonville* John Sessions Stadium W 5–4 Dwyer (2–1) Russell (1–3) Lees (1) 188 5–7 — March 10 Penn* The Diamond Richmond, Virginia W 12–5 Thompson (1–1) Reitcheck (1–1) none 237 6–7 — March 11 Penn* The Diamond W 5–1 Blanchard (1–2) Hammonds (0–1) none 181 7–7 — March 13 Monmouth* The Diamond L 0–3 Hunt (1–2) Howie (1–3) none 204 7–8 — Central Virginia Classic March 15 James Madison* The Diamond W 7–1 Dwyer (3–1) Bradshaw (1–1) none 373 8–8 — March 16 Minnesota* The Diamond W 11–4 Lees (2–0) Thonvold (0–1) none 258 9–8 — March 17 Monmouth* The Diamond L 0–7 Trimarco (1–2) Thompson (1–2) none 227 9–9 — March 20 at East Carolina* Clark–LeClair Stadium Greenville, North Carolina — March 21 at East Carolina* Clark–LeClair Stadium — March 22 at East Carolina* Clark–LeClair Stadium — March 24 VMI* The Diamond — March 25 Longwood* The Diamond — March 27 UMass The Diamond March 28 UMass The Diamond March 29 UMass The Diamond March 31 Virginia* Duel at the Diamond The Diamond —
April Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record A10 record April 4 at Dayton • April 4 at Dayton (DH) • April 5 at Dayton • April 8 at Old Dominion* Rivalry • — April 10 George Mason* Rivalry The Diamond — April 11 George Mason* Rivalry The Diamond — April 12 George Mason* Rivalry The Diamond — April 14 at VMI* • — April 15 at Longwood* • — April 17 at Saint Joseph's • April 18 at Saint Joseph's • April 19 at Saint Joseph's • April 21 Maryland* The Diamond — April 22 at Maryland* • — April 24 Rhode Island Hugh Stephens Field Ashland, Virginia April 25 Rhode Island Hugh Stephens Field April 26 Rhode Island Hugh Stephens Field April 29 Norfolk State* • —
May # Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record A10 record • — • — • — • — • — • — • —
Postseason (7–3)
Atlantic 10 Tournament (4–0) # Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record Postseason Record 56 May 20 vs. Davidson First Round Barcroft Park • Arlington, VA W 11–0 34–22 1–0 57 May 21 vs. Saint Louis Second Round Barcroft Park • Arlington, VA W 14–3 35–22 2–0 58 May 22 vs. Rhode Island Third Round Barcroft Park • Arlington, VA W 8–2 36–22 3–0 59 May 23 vs. Rhode Island Championship Barcroft Park • Arlington, VA W 5–3 37–22 4–0
NCAA Dallas Regional (3–1) # Date Rank Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record Postseason Record 60 May 29 (4) at No. 14 (1) Dallas Baptist First Round Regional Horner Ballpark Dallas, Texas W 7–2 38–22 5–0 61 May 31 (4) vs. No. 18 (2) Oregon State Second Round Regional Horner Ballpark W 5–1 39–22 6–0 62 Jun 1 No. 18 (4) at No. 14 (1) Dallas Baptist Regional Final Game 1 Horner Ballpark L 1–2 39–23 6–1 63 Jun 1 No. 18 (4) at No. 14 (1) Dallas Baptist Regional Final Game 2 Horner Ballpark W 3–1 40–23 7–1
NCAA Coral Gables Super Regional (0–2) # Date Rank Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record Postseason Record 64 Jun 5 No. 15 at No. 5 (5) Miami Super Regional Game 1 Mark Light Field Coral Gables, Florida L 2–3 40–24 7–2 65 Jun 6 No. 15 at No. 5 (5) Miami Super Regional Game 2 Mark Light Field L 3–10 40–25 7–3

Rankings

Main article: 2015 NCAA Division I baseball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Final
Coaches' [4]	—	—*	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Baseball America [5]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Collegiate Baseball^ [6]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	15
NCBWA† [7]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	18

^ Collegiate Baseball ranks 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* New poll was not released for this week so for comparison purposes the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

1. "Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Standings and Leaders". Atlantic 10 Conference. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
2. "2013-14 VCU Baseball Roster". VCU Athletics. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
3. "VCU Rams baseball schedule". VCU Rams. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
4. "USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 coaches' baseball poll". Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
5. "Baseball America College: Top 25". Baseball America.
6. "NCAA DIV I Baseball Polls". Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
7. "NCBWA Division I poll". National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.