RICHMOND, Virginia – The Red Foxes dropped their fifth straight game and were swept by the VCU Rams with a 3-0 loss on Monday. With the defeat, Marist stands at 2-7 (0-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) while the win improves the Rams to 6-4 (0-0 Atlantic 10).

Senior John Brucker and sophomore Andrew Rouse led the Red Foxes with 2-for-3 and 2-for-4 efforts at the plate respectively. The Red Foxes managed just five hits on the afternoon.

Sophomore Charlie Jerla got the start and his second loss of the season throwing seven innings, giving up eight hits and three runs to go along with two walks and four strike outs. Sophomore Thomas Henderson got his first appearance of the season, pitching one inning of no run, no hit ball.

Junior Logan Farrar and sophomore Mitchel Lacey led the Rams going 2-for-4 and 2-for-3 at the plate with zero and one runs batted in respectively. Junior Brooks Vial pitched a complete game, five hit shutout to go along with one walk and four strikeouts.

The Red Foxes got their first two hits of the afternoon in the third inning when Brucker and sophomore Matt Iantosca singled with one out, setting up men on first and second. However, the next batter grounded into an inning ending double play and the score remained 0-0.

The game remained a pitcher's duel through the sixth inning with both teams just managing three hits apiece in that time. However, the Rams broke open the scoring in the bottom of the seventh. Farrar single to left center to lead off and after a pop out to the second baseman, sophomore Brett Hileman singled through the right side, giving VCU men on first and third. Freshman Brody Cook walked to load the bases and sophomore Haiden Lamb followed with an RBI bunt single to score Farrar and the Rams were ahead 1-0. In the next at bat Lacey singled to center, scoring Hileman and the VCU lead increased to 2-0.

The Red Foxes looked to answer in the top of the eighth and got the lead off man on when freshman Tyler Kapuscinski walked. After a stolen base for Kapuscinski and a strikeout, Brucker got his second hit of the afternoon, a single to left field that gave Marist men on first and third with one out. However, a 6-4-3 double play by the ensuing batter ended the threat with the score still 2-0 in favor of the home team.

The Rams added a third insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Henderson came on to replace Jerla and junior Matt Davis walked and advanced to second base on a wild pitch during the next at bat. Farrar single to second before a throwing error by the second baseman allowed Davis to score from third and Farrar to advance to second and the Rams were ahead 3-0.

Down three runs, the Red Foxes looked to get back into the game in the top of the ninth. Following a strikeout, sophomore Andrew Rouse singled up the middle and junior Tyler Kirkpatrick reached on a fielder's choice and stole second during the next at bat. With a man on second and two outs, the next Marist batter flew out to left field and VCU emerged with the 3-0 victory.

In the three game series, the Rams outscored and outhit the Red Foxes 13-6 and 33-21, while Marist committed seven errors to VCU's three.

Up next for the Red Foxes is a three games series at Delaware State University on Friday (2 PM), Saturday (1 PM) and Sunday (12 PM).