WILMINGTON, N.C. - After winning the opener 10-0 and forcing a second game, UNCW came up short in an epic 12-inning battle with VCU and Joe Van Meter's two-run homer in the top of the 12th inning pushed the Rams past UNCW, 7-5, in the championship game of the Colonial Athletic Association championship on Saturday at Brooks Field.

The Rams (34-24-1) advance to the NCAA regionals next weekend and will learn their destination on Monday. The Seahawks, meanwhile, conclude their season with a 33-27 mark after fighting off elimination three times in the last two days.

In the 12th, Van Meter slammed his 10th homer of the season off losing pitcher Stephen Harrold (3-3) following a walk to Richard Gonzalez to open the frame. It was the only hit and runs that Harrold would allow in his 4 1/3 inning relief stint.

Robbie Andrews (1-2) picked up the win out of the bullpen for the Rams, who held the Seahawks off the scoreboard for the final eight innings.

UNCW jumped on VCU starter Seth Cutler-Voltz for four runs in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a walk and several errors and adding a pair of hits.

VCU broke through in the top of the second with a run coming in on a Doug Otto two-out single to center.

Senior Ben Thielsen (2-4) pushed UNCW's lead to 5-1 in the fourth with a single of his own.

VCU was able to solve UNCW reliever Seth Frankoff in the fifth, plating three two-out runs to narrow its deficit to 5-4. Keying that fifth inning was Greg Fujii with a RBI single. Fujji came off the bench and collected three hits and scored twice.

The score would remain the same until the eighth when the Rams drew even on a two-out error that scored an unearned run and knotted the game at 5-all.

The Seahawks were able to load the bases in the ninth and 10th innings with two out, but couldn't push across the winning run as VCU reliever Jonathan Watson closed out the ninth and Andrews the 10th. Watson allowed just one hit in four innings of relief.

In the opener, junior righthander Daniel Cropper tossed a complete game shutout as UNCW forced a second championship game with a 10-0 white-washing of the Rams. Cropper needed just 105 pitchers in going the distance, scattering four hits and striking out three.

Hunter Ridge led five Seahawks with two hits in the game. Ridge knocked in two runs.

Tournament Honors

Most Outstanding Player: Joe Van Meter, VCU

All-Tournament: Daniel Cropper, UNC Wilmington, Seth Cutler-Voltz, VCU, Brett Garner, James Madison, Matt Holt, UNC Wilmington, Tyler McSwain, UNC Wilmington, Robbie Monday, UNC Wilmington, Doug Otto, VCU, Thomas Pope, UNC Wilmington, Hunter Ridge, UNC Wilmington, Joe Van Meter, VCU, Jonathan Watson, VCU