Box Score WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Despite a strong comeback, the Tribe was unable to overcome a five run fourth inning from VCU in am 8-6 loss to the Rams Friday afternoon at Plumeri Park. The Green and Gold saw Michael Zubovich and Matt Howat combine for 4.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and got strong offensive production from Jack Cone and Hunter Hart in the loss. 
 
VCU wasted no time getting on the board as the first batter of the game Michael Haydak singled to left and would touch home on Tyler Locklear's 10th home run of the early season to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. 
 
The Tribe cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second as with one out Matt Thomas reached on an error by the VCU third baseman and would score on Hunter Hart's two-out single up the middle. 
 
After a scoreless third inning, VCU erupted for five runs in the visiting half of the fourth. The Rams scored the five spot on three hits and a pair of hit batters. The inning was punctuated by Locklear's three-run homer his 11th of the year putting him atop all NCAA hitters. 
 
Cone would answer for the Tribe leading off the bottom half with a solo shot to right-center marking his first long ball in the Green and Gold. With a pair of outs in the inning, Matt Trehub sent a single into left and scored on Hart's double to deep right-center. 
 
VCU added a run in the fifth but the Tribe would answer as Phil Conti walked and moved to second on Matt McDermott's single to right. Conti would come around as Cone ripped a hit into right-center. 
 
In the bottom of the seventh Conti singled and moved to third as Ben Williamson hit a shot off the 400 sign in dead center for a double. The knock extended Williamson's hitting streak to nine games. Both Conti and Williamson would score as Cone singled into right-center knocking in his third and fourth runs of the afternoon. 
 
The Tribe would be unable to get anything going in the eighth and Cone was stranded after notching his fourth hit of the day in the ninth. Cone finished with four RBIs to go with his four knocks and Hart recorded three hits knocking in two runners. 
 
Zubovich worked a clean 2.1 innings allowing just three hits and a walk and his effort would be duplicated by Howat who struck out a pair and allowed just one hit in his 2.1 innings of work. Tribe starter Wade Strain was saddled with the loss, his first since February 27. 
 
The two teams will face off tomorrow in a Saturday doubleheader to conclude the three-game series. The series will shift to Richmond for the twin-billing as the Tribe and Rams will meet at 1:00 p.m. for game one at The Diamond.