RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — RJ Rickabaugh homered and drove in four runs to lead Richmond to an 8-4 victory over VCU on Saturday afternoon at Malcolm U. Pitt Field, evening the Atlantic 10 series between the intrastate rivals.

The Spiders improved to 25-18 overall and 10-5 in conference play, while the Rams fell to 22-20 and 8-7.

Richmond starter Joey Giordano earned the win after working seven innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while striking out three. Chayse Gruber pitched two innings of relief, giving up four hits and one earned run with two strikeouts. For VCU, Patrick Steitz took the loss after allowing eight runs on zero hits over five and one-third innings, striking out four. Nick Frers threw two and two-thirds scoreless innings with no hits allowed.

The game’s pivotal moment came in the bottom of the sixth inning. VCU had taken a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on a Nick Flores home run, and the Rams extended that margin to 4-0 after Jacob Lee homered and Flores added a two-run shot in the top of the sixth. But Richmond answered emphatically in the bottom half.

After RJ Johnson Jr. doubled to left field, Scanlon was hit by a pitch, and Schaller singled to load the bases. Rickabaugh then launched a grand slam to right field, scoring all three base runners and giving Richmond an 8-0 lead. The Spiders added no further runs but the outburst proved decisive.

Richmond had tied the game earlier in the third inning. After Evan Wilson homered in the first to cut the lead to 4-1, the Spiders put together a three-run rally in the third. Wilson walked, Elko doubled, and Winebrenner was intentionally walked to load the bases. Johnson Jr. then doubled to right field, clearing the bases and tying the game at 4-4. He was thrown out attempting to advance to third.

VCU opened the scoring in the top of the first when Flores singled, advanced on a Lethert single and an Adelman single, but the Rams were held to one run in that inning. They added three more in the sixth on Lee’s solo homer and Flores’ two-run blast.

The Rams outhit Richmond 11-10 but grounded into two double plays to the Spiders’ three. Flores finished three for four with a home run and two RBIs. Trent Adelman went two for three with an RBI for VCU. For Richmond, Rickabaugh was two for four with the grand slam and four RBIs, and Johnson Jr. was two for three with three RBIs. Wilson also homered.

VCU had defeated Richmond 2-1 the afternoon before and has now lost two of its last three games overall. The series concludes Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Richmond 7, VCU 5. Interstat’s ELO system had projected VCU with a 51.20 percent probability to win.