A rematch of a game played two weeks ago in Richmond has plenty of intrigue.

The Rams arrive with an 11 game winning streak which includes a 5 to 3 win over the Hoos.

UVA had an impressive week of their own accord. A nice revenge win over Liberty as well as a series win in Blacksburg saw the Hoos go 3-1 on the week.

A win for either team will be a nice bullet point on the postseason resume.

This is also UVA’s last scheduled nonconference game of the season. And it’s the final game before the Hoos take their annual in season break for final exams.

Game Schedule

Tuesday, May 4 – 6:00 PM

Team Records

Virginia: 22-20 (Overall), 13-17 (ACC)

VCU: 27-14 (Overall), 9-3 (Atlantic 10)

Stat Comparison

The format will be raw stat and then rank in Division 1. Info is as of games played on May 2.

Batting

OBP = On Base Percentage

SLG = Slugging Percentage

Pitching

K/9 = Strikeouts Per 9 Innings

BB/9 = Walks Per 9 Innings

Miscellaneous

FLD % = Fielding Percentage

SOS = Strength Of Schedule

Note that all stats are from NCAA.com. RPI and strength of schedule data is from Warrennolan.com and is as of games played through May 2.

Series History

The Rams and Hoos have played 69 times. In a series first played in 1979, UVA currently has the advantage over VCU with an all time record of 46-23.

UVA has won 5 of the last 7 games against the Rams. And Coach Brian O’Connor owns a 21-4 record against VCU.

VCU won the last game between the teams. It was a 5 to 3 win for the Rams in Richmond on April 20, 2021. VCU scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first, setting the pace in a game the Rams never trailed.

Projected Starting Pitchers

VCU RHP Bradford Webb (3-1, 3.72 ERA, 38.2 IP, 12 walks, 36 strikeouts) vs UVA RHP Zach Messinger (2-1, 5.67 ERA, 33.1 IP, 17 walks, 39 strikeouts)

VCU goes back to the well with Webb, a Hampden-Sydney grad transfer.

Webb started the April 20 contest between the teams. That is his only career appearance against UVA. In that start, Webb tossed 3.0 innings of 4 hit baseball. He gave up 1 run (earned) while walking none and striking out 3.

Webb has made only one appearance since that game, starting VCU’s game last Friday against George Mason. Against the Patriots, Webb pitched 5.0 innings of 2 hit baseball. He gave up no runs while walking none and striking out 6. Webb earned the win in that game, a 9 to 2 victory for VCU.

Bradford Webb throwing spinners. He's got four strikeouts through three. We're scoreless at The Diamond. #ThisIsRamNation #LetsGoVCU pic.twitter.com/0RxmaqTDoh

— VCU Baseball (@VCUBaseball) April 30, 2021

Weather Forecast Via Weather.com

The forecast at first pitch is not exactly conducive to baseball.

Temps will be in the lower 80s during the game, but that’s not the problem. Beginning at 5:00, scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast with a 43% chance of precipitation. At 6:00, that drops to 40% but scattered thunderstorms are still predicted.

Beyond the chance for thunderstorms, a chance of rain persists throughout the afternoon.

The winds should be around 10 MPH.

Media Coverage

ACC Network Xtra will have streaming for the game. You can access the ACC Network Xtra stream via ESPN’s streaming platforms. Your content provider must carry ACC Network in order to access the stream.

Radio coverage will be available through WINA. They’ll have audio streaming on WINA.com. And in the Charlottesville area, you can find the broadcast on 1070 AM or 98.9 FM.

Ram To Watch

Last time, we highlighted VCU 3B Tyler Locklear. And against the Hoos, he went 0-3 with a run scored and 3 strikeouts.

Locklear is still having a great season for the Rams. He’ll be a focus of the UVA coaching staff in the plan for this game.

But, we’ll highlight junior center fielder Hogan Brown. In VCU’s last game against George Mason, Brown 2 for 3 with both hits being doubles. He also scored 3 runs, drove in 4, and drew 2 walks in the 11 to 2 VCU win.

Brown will enter the game against UVA with a .313 / .425 / .406 slash line. That equates to an OPS of .831. Brown’s .313 batting average is currently third best among VCU regulars. His .425 on base percentage is fourth best among VCU regulars. Brown’s slugging percentage of .406 in nothing to write home about. It’s sixth best among VCU regulars.

Brown does lead VCU in stolen bases, however. On the season, he’s 12 for 14 in stolen base attempts. Against the Hoos in April, Brown did steal one base in as many attempts.

Can't be stopped.

Hogan Brown doubles home @chujsak5 ?

?7️⃣ | #VCU 8, George Mason 2#LetsGoVCU | #ThisIsRamNation pic.twitter.com/sJdcRMaMpA

— VCU Baseball (@VCUBaseball) May 2, 2021

Prediction

This has all the makings of a fun one.

Virginia is winning baseball games at a healthy clip now. And the Rams have won 11 in a row.

The Hoos need to finish strong in order to build a postseason worthy resume. VCU wants to improve its own resume in case they’re unable to secure the Atlantic 10’s automatic berth.

This will be a pitching rematch of sorts. As mentioned above, Webb started against UVA earlier this season. And while Zach Messinger did not start for the Hoos, he relieved senior RHP Griff McGarry in the bottom of the first with no outs recorded. Messinger then proceeded to pitch the best game of his career, allowing no runs while striking out a career high 10 batters in 4.1 IP.

And UVA will want to avenge their loss to VCU from the prior game much like they did to Liberty last week. The Hoos probably feel like they should have won the prior game too as they outscored the Rams 3 to 2 after McGarry’s initial struggles.

The Rams will not lack for motivation in this one. But I believe that UVA’s drive to win this game will be overwhelming – the postseason resume implications, the desire to build on last week’s success, and the revenge factor.

It’s going to result in a fine performance for the Hoos before they take their annual break for final exams.

All good things must come to an end and that includes VCU’s winning streak.

UVA wins!