University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
!vs. Old Dominion
Spiders Baseball Drops One-Run Contest To Old Dominion, 5-4
02/19/2005 | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2005
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Richmond's baseball squad made another comeback Saturday at the Homewood Suites Shootout at Riley Park in Charleston, S.C., but could not answer Old Dominion's single run in the eighth falling, 5-4, for the first time this season. ODU, which lost in extra innings yesterday to host The Citadel, moved to 4-3 on the season with the one-run win.
Richmond starter junior Ja Jones was outstanding through five of his six innings of work. The Brunswick, Ga., native did not allow an ODU baserunner until he issued two walks in the fourth. Freshman catcher Alex Hale took care of one of the runners on attempt to steal second base. Hale later through out another runner and picked off a baserunner at third.
Jones, who had a no-hitter through 5.2 innings, gave up a single in the fifth, but did not allow a run until the sixth. The Monarch's led off the inning with consecutive singles and sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third with one out. A groundout to short pushed one across and another single upped the ODU lead to 2-0.
Old Dominion then picked back up the seventh with a double to lead off the inning followed by an RBI single which marked the end for Jones. Junior Wyatt Stewart came on to issue a walk which placed runners at first and second with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, ODU's Evan Chipman grounded out to a drawn infield, but placed it enough to allow the runner at third to score.
Richmond rallied for the second consecutive day, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 4-4. Sophomore Vince Riggi, who finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored, got the rally started with a single up the middle and later moved to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Matt McKenna followed by reaching on a error which allowed Riggi to cross the plate for the Spiders' first run. Hale drew a walk and was followed by freshman pinch-hitter Joe White, who drew a walk after a 12-pitch at-bat. Freshman Austin Reilly was issued the third consecutive walk which drove in Richmond's second run of the inning. Junior Anthony Sandstrom struck out for the first Spider out, but junior Ben Zeskind answered for the second-straight day with a clutch two-run single to left.
Stewart retired the first two hitters in the eighth, but after a single and an error put runners at first and third he gave up an RBI-single to right. Sophomore Sean Radke was then brought in to record the inning's final out.
The Spiders, who scored six runs in yesterday's come-from-behind effort, went down in order their half of the eighth and ninth to fall by one run.
Richmond wraps up the Homewood Suites Shootout tomorrow with a 1:30 p.m. contest against host The Citadel at Riley Park in Charleston, S.C. The game, originally scheduled for 3 p.m., was moved up due to a chance for inclement weather in the Charleston area. Sophomore righthander Rob Berzinskas is scheduled to make his first start of the season for Richmond
Game Notes
- Sophomore Vince Riggi recorded three hits for the second-consecutive game.
- Junior Ben Zeskind extended a eight-game hit streak which dates back to the end of 2004, with a 2 RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth.
- Riggi, Zeskind and sophomore Matt McKenna are the only Spiders to record consecutive games with a hit thus far this season.
