VCU Rams baseball

VCU Rams baseball represents Virginia Commonwealth University in all NCAA Division I baseball competitions. This program, established in 1971, is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Rams possess an 867–792–5 record with a 155–81 record in-conference (CAA). The head coach for the Rams is Shawn Stiffler, who replaced Paul Keyes after Keyes' death in 2013.[2] Significant past events are: First place CAA finishes in 1997, 1998, & 2003; 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, & 2010 CAA Tournament champions, 8 NCAA Tournament appearances since 1996; and an average of 30 or more wins (56 game schedule) in each of the past 11 seasons.

VCU Rams
2021 VCU Rams baseball team
Founded1969
UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University
Head coachShawn Stiffler (10th season)
ConferenceAtlantic 10
LocationRichmond, Virginia
Home stadiumThe Diamond
(Capacity: 9,560)
NicknameRams
ColorsBlack and Gold[1]
         
NCAA regional champions
2015
NCAA Tournament appearances
1988, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015
Conference tournament champions
2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015
Conference champions
2019

Accomplishments

In 1987, VCU went 25–22 for its first winning season in school history. The next year, the Rams made their first NCAA regional appearance.[3]

  • 8 NCAA Regionals
  • 24 All-CAA honorees
  • 16 All-Americans
  • 5 CAA Championships

In 2015, VCU's 45th year of baseball, the Rams had their banner season. Led by Shawn Stiffler in his third season as head coach, the team at one point was 26–22 going into their last two conference weekends with playoff hopes diminishing if they didn't turn things around. The team went on to win 13 straight games, including the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament held at George Washington University that year. The final play of the tournament was a diving catch by sophomore outfielder Logan Farrar that was recognized as one of the Top 10 plays. The Rams progressed to a tough regional hosted by Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas that included VCU, Texas, and Oregon State. The Rams went 3–1 in the regional tournament beating Dallas Baptist three times outscoring them 12–4 and Oregon State once with a score of 5–1. The Rams then advanced to the NCAA Super Regional for the first time in school history where they faced the #5 overall seed in the tournament, Miami, in Coral Gables, FL. The team's cinderella run came to an end after two losses to Miami losing game one 2–3 and game two 3–10. The accomplishment of this team was recognized by the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball writers who ranked the 2015 VCU Rams' team as 18th and 15th in the nation at the end of the season, respectively.

Records

VCU holds distinction as one of only two CAA Tournament teams that has produced a 1-hitter during the tournament, the other being Maika Symmonds of ODU, vs. Richmond, 5–20–95. Ram pitcher, Matt Prendergast, accomplished this feat against George Mason on May 25, 2003. VCU and GMU share the record for most RBI in a tournament with 11 by Brandon Inge, VCU, 1997 (4 games) and 11 by Jeff Palumbo, GMU, 2003 (5 games). The Rams also hold CAA Tournament records for most appearances by a single pitcher with 6 by Brian Marshall in 2002 (1 win, 4 saves), most strikeouts with 17 by Sean Marshall, also in 2002, (3 games, 12.0 IP), and most saves with 4 by Brian Marshall, again in 2002 (6 games).[4]

Alumni

VCU has produced several MLB draftees, some of whom have continued on to enjoy successful careers in MLB. Among these are: Brandon Inge (DET, 3B), Scott Sizemore (OAK, 3B), Sean Marshall (CHC, RP), Cody Eppley (NYY, RP).[5]

Noteworthy contributions to CAA All-Conference teams [4]
  • Rookie of the Year (1996) & Co-player of the Year (1998), Brandon Inge, in 1996, 1997, & 1998
  • Coach of the Year, Paul Keyes, 1997, 1998, & 2003
  • Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Matt Davis, in 2001
  • Rookie of the Year (2001), Sean Marshall
  • Jason Dubois in 1998, 1999, & 2000
  • Rookie of the Year (2004), Harold Mozingo
  • Co-Defensive player of the Year (2005), Pete Farina
  • Rookie of the Year (2005), Sergio Miranda
  • Defensive Player of the Year (2007), Sergio Miranda

Results of the 2006 MLB Draft [5]

In the 2006 MLB Draft, 28 CAA players were selected, including 3 from VCU – Harold Mozingo (RHP, KC, overall pick #167), Scott Sizemore (2B, DET, overall pick #142), and Michael Gibbs (RHP, COL, overall pick #498). Conferences comparable to the CAA, such as the Southern Conference the West Coast Conference, had 12 and 24 players drafted, respectively.

See also

References
  1. "Virginia Commonwealth University Primary Palette". Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  2. http://vcuathletics.com/sports/bsb/2012-13/releases/201211039sb8jc
  3. http://vcuathletics.com/information/directory/bios/Keyes_Paul
  4. CAA Record Book, 2005.
  5. http://www.MLB.com, 2011.
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