University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
VCU
Spider Baseball Drops Series Opener To VCU, 20-1
03/10/2005 | Baseball
March 10, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond baseball team pushed only one run across Thursday in the series opener with crosstown rival VCU, falling 20-1 at Pitt Field. The Rams, who scored multiple runs in each of the last six innings, move to 9-3 and a pick up their first road win of the season. The Spiders, who posted five hits on the day, even their mark at 5-5 heading into tomorrow's second contest of the four-game set.
VCU took the early lead in the second when Richmond starter freshman Brian Alas hit the leadoff batter then allowed a single to rightfield. A fielder's choice, which followed, put runners at first and second with one out and allowed Trai Harris to double in the Rams' first run. Bobby Holmes then drove in the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to rightfield.
The Spiders did not answer until the third when sophomore Anthony Sandstrom led off the inning by reaching on the first of VCU's four errors. Sandstrom moved to second on a balk by Ram starter, John Leonard, and then to third on a wild pitch. With two outs and Sandstrom still at third, junior Ben Zeskind recorded Richmond's only RBI of the game with a single up the middle.
The Rams then went on a tear posting two runs in each of the next three innings to take an 8-1 lead into the top of the seventh. It didn't get much better for the Spiders as VCU upped its total by scoring four more in seventh on four hits. During the bottom halves of the fifth, sixth and seventh Richmond went on an offensive drought, failing to record a base hit in 14 plate appearances.
VCU did not let up scoring three in the eighth and five more in the ninth to push the final to 20-1. Alas suffered the loss after working 4.1 innings, giving up six runs (three earned) on five hits and striking out three. The Port Washington, N.Y., native walked just one, but hit five batters. Leonard picked up the win for the Rams by pitching the minimum five and giving up an unearned run on four hits while fanning four.
The Spiders and Rams are slated to clash again tomorrow, Friday, March 11 at Pitt Field in game two of the four-game city rivalry series. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.
Game Notes
- Richmond allowed 20 runs for the first time since May 12, 2004 when Liberty scored 20 runs.
- The Spiders now have a narrow one-game lead in the all-time series with the Rams, 33-32.
