2023 VCU Rams baseball team

Last updated

2023 VCU Rams baseball
VCU Rams logo.svg
Conference Atlantic 10 Conference
Record25–30 (11–13 A-10)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Andrew Cox (1st season)
  • Tanner Gordon (1st season)
  • Andrew Llewellyn (3rd season)
Home stadium The Diamond
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT
Saint Joseph's  1770 .70828241 .538
Davidson  1580 .65230240 .556
Saint Louis  1590 .62533230 .589
Dayton  1590 .62526340 .433
Richmond  1490 .60927280 .491
George Mason  y13100 .56536270 .571
Rhode Island  13110 .54223290 .442
George Washington  11120 .47821340 .382
VCU  11130 .45825300 .455
Fordham  7170 .29219360 .345
UMass  6180 .25014350 .286
St. Bonaventure  5190 .2088400 .167
Conference champion
Tournament champion
y Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 25, 2023 [1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

The 2023 VCU Rams baseball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2023 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 first season with the program.

Contents

The Rams finished the season with a 25–30 record.

Previous season

The 2022 VCU Rams baseball team notched a 42–20 (19–5) regular season record. VCU successfully defended their tournament championship, winning the 2022 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament over Richmond, and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. They were seeded number three in the Chapel Hill Regional. There, they defeated Georgia and then North Carolina in the opening round, [2] before losing two straight to North Carolina. Upon the end of the season, VCU head coach, Shawn Stiffler resigned to become the head coach for Notre Dame. [3]

Preseason

Preseason Atlantic 10 awards and honors

Austin Younce was named the Atlantic 10 Preseason Freshman of the Year, while Will Carlone, and Campbell Ellis were named to the All-Atlantic 10 Preseason team. [4]

A-10 Preseason Freshman of the Year
PlayerNo.PositionClass
Austin Younce18CFreshman
Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Team
PlayerNo.PositionClass
Will Carlone40INFRS Junior
Campbell Ellis46LHPJunior

Coaches poll

The Atlantic 10 baseball coaches' poll was released on February 7, 2023. VCU was picked to finish second the Atlantic 10. [5]

Coaches' Poll
Predicted finishTeamPoints
1Davidson130 (5)
2VCU125 (4)
3Richmond103 (1)
4Saint Louis103
5Dayton92 (1)
6Rhode Island85
7Saint Joseph's81
8George Mason70 (1)
9Fordham52
10George Washington51
11UMass27
12St. Bonaventure17

Personnel

Starters

Lineup
Pos.No.Player.Year
C37Nic EricssonRS Junior
1B3Brandon EikeSophomore
2B4Ethan BrooksFreshman
3B8Harrison LongSophomore
SS10William BeanJunior
LF26Cooper BenzinRS Junior
CF13A.J. MathisRS Senior
RF21Logan AmissRS Senior
DH40Will CarloneRS Junior
Weekend Pitching Rotation
DayNo.Player.Year
Friday46Campbell EllisJunior
Saturday1Christian GordonJunior
Sunday33Mason DelaneRS Junior

Roster

2023 VCU Rams baseball team
PlayersCoaches
#Pos.NameB/THeightWeightYearHome town
1 LHP Christian GordonL/L6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg)Jr Amherst, VA
2 INF Brandon EikeR/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)220 lb (100 kg)So Powhatan, VA
4 INF Ethan BrooksR/R5 ft 11 in(1.8 m)160 lb (73 kg)Fr Glen Allen, VA
6 INF Griffin BooneR/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg)RS So Montclair, VA
8 INF Harrison LongR/R5 ft 10 in(1.78 m)175 lb (79 kg)So Sarasota, FL
9 OF Scottie O'BryanR/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)195 lb (88 kg)RS Jr Jamesville, NY
10 INF William BeanR/R5 ft 11 in(1.8 m)180 lb (82 kg)Jr Great Falls, VA
12 OF Jesse Robinson Jr.R/R6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg)So Short Pump, VA
13 OF AJ MathsL/L5 ft 8 in(1.73 m)165 lb (75 kg)RS Sr Tampa, FL
15 C Jacob SeldenL/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg)Gr Charleston, SC
16 OF Gavyn BoyleL/R6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)200 lb (91 kg)Fr Gasport, NY
17 C Casey GibbsS/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)170 lb (77 kg)So Olney, MD
18 C Austin YounceR/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg)Fr Chesapeake, VA
19 OF John LucasR/R6 ft 1 in(1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg)RS Fr Midlothian, VA
20 INF Macho SantiagoL/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)200 lb (91 kg)Fr Richmond, VA
21 OF Logan AmissL/R5 ft 11 in(1.8 m)205 lb (93 kg)RS Sr Powhatan, VA
22 OF Aden HillL/R5 ft 10 in(1.78 m)200 lb (91 kg)Fr Mechanicsville, MD
24 RHP James GladdenR/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)Fr Baltimore, MD
25 INF Jake ThilgesR/R6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)212 lb (96 kg)RS So Johnston, IA
26 OF Cooper BenzinR/R6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg)RS Jr Ashland, VA
27 RHP Nick FrazierR/R5 ft 9 in(1.75 m)170 lb (77 kg)So Vienna, VA
28 LHP Devan ZirwasL/L6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)210 lb (95 kg)Fr Imperial, PA
30 RHP Justin WaltonR/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg)Gr Glen Allen, VA
31 RHP Evan BertR/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)195 lb (88 kg)Fr Harrisonburg, VA
32 OF Devan BarnettL/L6 ft 5 in(1.96 m)212 lb (96 kg)Jr Pittsburgh, PA
33 RHP Mason DelaneR/R6 ft 4 in(1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg)RS Jr Colonial Beach, VA
34 INF Ethan SerranoR/R5 ft 10 in(1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg)Fr Mechanicsville, VA
36 RHP Brendan ErkaR/R6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)195 lb (88 kg)So Allison Park, PA
37 C Nic EricssonR/R6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)200 lb (91 kg)RS Jr Dale City, VA
38 LHP Jack GoleskiL/L6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg)So Atlee, VA
39 RHP Zachary PetersR/R6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg)Fr Pawling, NY
40 INF Will CarloneR/R6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)205 lb (93 kg)RS Jr West Seneca, NY
41 RHP Brian CurleyR/R5 ft 10 in(1.78 m)200 lb (91 kg)Fr Midlothian, VA
43 LHP Cade DresslerL/L6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)225 lb (102 kg)So Mifflinburg, PA
44Cam NuckolsR/R6 ft 4 in(1.93 m)225 lb (102 kg)Fr Chesterfield, VA
45 INF Art SchoenstadtL/R5 ft 7 in(1.7 m)170 lb (77 kg)Gr Sammamish, WA
46 LHP Campbell EllisL/L6 ft 4 in(1.93 m)215 lb (98 kg)Jr Georgetown, ON
50 RHP Justin HumenayR/R6 ft 0 in(1.83 m)195 lb (88 kg)Jr Montreal, QC
55 RHP Maison MartinezR/R6 ft 2 in(1.88 m)210 lb (95 kg)Fr Lake Worth, FL
Head coach

Bradley LeCroy

Assistant coach(es)

Andrew Cox
Tanner Gordon
Andrew Llewellyn


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: February 5, 2023

Coaching staff

2022 VCU Rams baseball coaching staff
NamePositionSeasons at
VCU
Alma Mater
Bradley LeCroy Head Coach1 Clemson University (2000)
Andrew CoxAssistant Coach1Clemson University (2017)
Tanner GordonAssistant Coach1 Trevecca Nazarene University (2019)
Andrew LlewellynAssistant Coach3 Wingate University (2020)

Offseason

Departures

VCU Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Marcus O'Malley1INF5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)161 Fr. Naples, Florida Transferred to FIU
Michael Haydak2INF5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)190 RS-Jr. Tampa, Florida Transferred to Southeastern
Connor Hujsak3INF6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 So. Goffstown, New Hampshire Transferred to Mississippi State
Ryan Recio4INF6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)184 Fr. Boca Raton, Florida Did not return
Aaron Barber8INF5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)190 RS-So. Seattle, Washington Transferred to Pacific Lutheran
Edwin Serrano10RHP5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)165 RS-Sr. Haines City, Florida Graduated
Brendan Roney14C5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)185 RS-Fr. Cudjoe Key, Florida Transferred to FIU
Joey Perkins16LHP6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)215 RS-Jr. Lebanon, Ohio Did not return
Brendan Wilkinson18RHP6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 Fr. West Milton, Ohio Did not return
Jaden Griffin20LHP6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)205 RS-Jr. Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia Did not return
Zach Boswell22RHP5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)185 RS-Jr. Snohomish, Washington Did not return
Ethan Mishra23RHP6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 Fr. Washington, D.C. Transferred to Tulane
Maddison Furman24LHP5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)185 RS-Jr. Richmond, Virginia Graduated
Jack Masloff25LHP6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 RS-So. Charlottesville, Virginia Signed by Detroit Tigers
Tyler Locklear 28INF6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)210 RS-So. Abingdon, Maryland Drafted by Seattle Mariners
Virot Siharath30INF6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)210 Fr. Keswick, Ontario Did not return
Ben Nippolt34INF5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)165 RS-So. St. Paul, Minnesota Transferred to LSU
Nolan Wilson38RHP6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)215 Gr. Atlanta, Georgia Graduated
Evan Chenier39RHP6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)215 RS-Jr. Georgetown, Ontario Transferred to FIU
Chase Hungate41INF6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)175 Fr. Abingdon, Virginia Transferred to Virginia
Tyler Coy44C6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)230 So. Williamsville, New York Did not return
Tyler Davis45LHP6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)230 RS-So. Newport News, Virginia Transferred to Mississippi State
Braedin Hunt55RHP6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)210 RS-Fr. Old Bridge, New Jersey Did not return

Transfers

Incoming Transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Christian Gordon1LHP6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 Jr. Agricola, Virginia Liberty
Brandon Eike2INF6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)220 So. Powhatan, Virginia North Carolina
Harrison Long8INF5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)175 So. Sarasota, Florida Jacksonville
William Bean10INF5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)180 Jr. Great Falls, Virginia West Virginia
Jake Thilges253B6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)165 RS-So. Johnston, Iowa Des Moines Area CC
Justin Walton30RHP6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 Gr. Glen Allen, Virginia Norfolk State
Brendan Erka36RHP6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 RS-So. Allison Park, Pennsylvania Harford CC
Jack Goleski38LHP6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 So. Mechanicsville, Virginia Pitt CC

Signing Day Recruits

The following players signed National Letter of Intents to play for VCU in 2023.

PlayerHometownHigh School
Pitchers
Evan Bert Harrisonburg, Virginia Harrisonburg (VA)
Brian Curley Midlothian, Virginia Trinity Episcopal (VA)
James Gladden Baltimore, Maryland Archbishop Curley
Maison Martinez Lake Worth, Florida Park Vista
Cam Nuckols Chesterfield, Virginia St. Christopher's (VA)
Zachary Peters Pawling, New York Trinity-Pawling
Ethan Serrano Mechanicsville, Virginia Mechanicsville (VA)
Devan Zirwas Imperial, Pennsylvania West Allegheny
Hitters
Gavyn Boyle Gasport, New York P27 Academy
Ethan Brooks Glen Allen, Virginia Glen Allen
Aden Hill Mechanicsville, Maryland P27 Academy
Macho Santiago Richmond, Virginia Douglas S. Freeman
Austin Younce Chesapeake, Virginia Greenbrier Christian

2022 MLB Draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionMLB Team
#2#58 Tyler Locklear 3B Seattle Mariners [6]

Game log

2023 VCU Rams Baseball Game Log (25–30)
Regular Season (25–30)
Legend:       = Win       = Loss       = Canceled
Bold =VCU team member
Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

[8]

Schedule Notes

  1. The Fairfield game on March 5 became a doubleheader due to the March 3 game being canceled due to inclement weather.
  2. 1 2 The George Washington game on April 22 was suspended in the 7th inning due to inclement weather, the game resumed at 12:00 p.m. on April 23. VCU was leading 11–3 at the time of suspension. The April 23 game originally scheduled for 12:00 p.m. was postponed to 3:30 p.m. [7]

Statistics

Team batting

TeamABAvg.H2B3BHRRBIBBSOSB
VCU0.00000000000
Opponents0.00000000000

Team pitching

TeamIPHRERBBSOSVERA
VCU0.00000000.00
Opponents0.00000000.00

Individual batting

Note: leaders must meet the minimum requirement of 2 PA/G and 75% of games played

PlayerGPABAvg.H2B3BHRRBIBBSOSB
Brandon Eike00.00000000000
Ethan Brooks00.00000000000
Griffin Boone00.00000000000
Harrison Long00.00000000000
William Bean00.00000000000
Jesse Robinson Jr.00.00000000000
AJ Mathis00.00000000000
Gavyn Boyle00.00000000000
Austin Younce00.00000000000
John Lucas00.00000000000
Macho Santiago00.00000000000
Logan Amiss00.00000000000
Aden Hill00.00000000000
Jake Thilges00.00000000000
Cooper Benzin00.00000000000
Devan Barnett00.00000000000

Individual pitching

Note: leaders must meet the minimum requirement of 1 IP/G

PlayerGPGSWLIPHRERBBSOSVERA
Christian Gordon00000.00000000.00
James Gladden00000.00000000.00
Nick Frazier00000.00000000.00
Devan Zirwas00000.00000000.00
Justin Walton00000.00000000.00
Evan Bert00000.00000000.00
Mason Delane00000.00000000.00
Brendan Erka00000.00000000.00
Jack Goleski00000.00000000.00
Zachary Peters00000.00000000.00
Brian Curley00000.00000000.00
Cade Dressler00000.00000000.00
Cam Nuckols00000.00000000.00
Campbell Ellis00000.00000000.00
Justin Humenay00000.00000000.00
Maison Martinez00000.00000000.00
Legend
  GP Games played  GS Games started AB At-bats
  H Hits Avg. Batting average 2B Doubles
 3B Triples HR Home runs RBI Runs batted in
  IP Innings pitched  WWins L Losses
 ERA Earned run average SO Strikeouts BB Base on balls
 SV Saves SB Stolen bases High Team high

Source: [9]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
Coaches' [10] —*
Baseball America [11]
Collegiate Baseball^ [12] RV
NCBWA [13] RV
D1Baseball [14]

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A 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. "2023 Baseball Standings". atlantic10.com. Atlantic 10 Conference. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. Swanson, Shelby (June 5, 2022). "No. 1 seed UNC baseball downs No. 3 seed VCU, 19-8, to force regional winner-take-all". The Daily Tar Heel . Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  3. Stires, Sean (July 12, 2022). "It's Official: Notre Dame Hires Shawn Stiffler As Its New Baseball Coach". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  4. Sutherland, Troy (February 2, 2023). "Conference Preview: Atlantic 10". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  5. "Reigning Regular-Season Champion Davidson Earns First-Time Selection as A-10 Baseball Preseason Favorite". atlantic10.com. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. Epps, Wayne (July 18, 2022). "VCU's Tyler Locklear selected by Mariners in second round of MLB draft, becoming Rams' highest pick in 18 years". richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  7. @VCUBaseball (April 22, 2023). "Due to the inclement weather today's game at George Washington has been suspended. Play will pick up tomorrow (Apr. 23) at 12 p.m. Sunday's originally scheduled game will start 30 minutes after the finish of today's game" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  8. "2023 Baseball Schedule". vcuathletics.com. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. "2023 Baseball Cumulative Statistics". VCU Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  10. "NCAA Baseball - Coaches Poll". USA Today . Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  11. "College Top 25". Baseball America. January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  12. "2022 Collegiate Baseball Polls". baseballnews.com.
  13. "NCBWA Top 30 Polls". sportswriters.net. Archived from the original on July 24, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  14. "D1 Baseball: Rankings". d1baseball.com. Retrieved January 14, 2022.