Box Score RICHMOND, Va. – Vimael Machin, James Bunn and Logan Farrar led host Virginia Commonwealth's 16-hit attack with three hits apiece as the Rams topped Norfolk State 14-6 on Wednesday night at The Diamond.

The Spartans (20-13) rapped out 13 hits of their own, including a career-high three from third baseman Robbie Hiser (3-for-5). But the Rams scored in all but one inning and rode a fast start to the non-conference win.

VCU's bats were hot from the start, scoring four runs in each of the first two innings. Cody Acker and Brett Hileman hit run-scoring singles in a four-run first, while Bunn and Machin did likewise in the second to stake the Rams to an 8-0 lead after two innings.

NSU got on the board with three runs, all with two outs, in the top of the third. Hiser reached on a single and Angel Rosario doubled on a pair of fly balls that VCU center fielder Farrar lost in the lights. The Spartans made that hurt as Roger Hall lined a triple into center field to score a pair of runs, and Ryan Kilmon doubled over the left fielder's head to score Hall and make it 8-3.

VCU scored single runs in the third and fourth to stretch their lead to 10-3. Alex Mauricio cut into the lead with an RBI single in the top of the fifth.

Matt Davis added RBI with a fifth-inning single and a seventh-inning groundout to add to the Rams' lead.

NSU's bats didn't go quietly, recording four singles in a two-run eighth. Omar Hotusing singled with one out, and after a two-out Mikey Bruno single, Hotusing scored on Hiser's third hit of the night. Pinch hitter Tony Leite also had an RBI single in the frame.

But VCU capped the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. The Rams scored in every inning but the sixth.

Hiser had his ninth multi-hit game of the year but his first with three hits. Kilmon and Kyle Vaas added two hits apiece for NSU. 

Bunn had three RBI for the Rams, while Machin, Hileman and Ryan Coale had two each.

Michael Parmentier (2-1) allowed four runs in the first inning and was saddled with his first loss of the year. Thomas Gill pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win for VCU.

The Spartans return home for their final seven games of the season, beginning with a three-game MEAC series this Saturday and Sunday against Coppin State at Marty L. Miller Field. The teams play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. NSU needs one victory in the series to clinch the MEAC's Northern Division regular-season title outright.