RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — Chase Topolski pitched six innings of three-hit, shutout ball and Dylan Winebrenner homered in the first inning to lift Richmond to a 2-1 victory over VCU on Friday afternoon at Malcolm U. Pitt Field.

Winebrenner opened the scoring with a solo homer to deep right field in the bottom of the first. The Spiders added another run in the second when Evan Wilson doubled to right, driving in Jake Rickabaugh. VCU cut the deficit in the eighth inning on a solo homer by Jacob Lee, who went 2 for 4.

Topolski struck out two and did not allow an earned run for Richmond, which improved to 24-18. Elias Holbert took the loss for the Rams after allowing two runs over four innings despite not surrendering a hit. Cooper Campbell pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings in relief. Richmond collected seven hits to VCU’s four, and the Rams grounded into two double plays.

The Atlantic 10 contest was the first of a three-game series.