University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
at VCU
Seven-Run Eighth Caps Off Four-Game Sweep For VCU Over Spiders
03/13/2005 | Baseball
March 13, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Three Spiders recorded multiple hits and two drove in multiple runs, but it was not enough for Richmond to avoid the four-game sweep by VCU, Sunday, falling 16-8 in the final contest of the city rivalry series. The loss drops Richmond to 5-8 on the season, while VCU improves to 12-3 overall.
VCU posted their first runs of the game in the second when Richmond's starter, junior Ja Jones, issued five consecutive two-out walks. The Spiders rallied in the top of the third for one run when freshman Austin Reilly and sophomore Anthony Sandstrom each garnered one-out singles. Freshman Joe White was issued a walk to load the bases then junior Ben Zeskind drove in Reilly on an infield fielder's choice.
The Rams scored three more times in the third, but could not pull away from the Spiders who pushed two across in the fourth. The inning was highlighted by a lead-off single from junior Andrew Justice and an RBI-single from sophomore Vince Riggi. Freshman Drew Poiter then drove Riggi in from second with a two-out single to centerfield.
VCU went on to post two in the fourth and one in each of the fifth and sixth to take a 9-3 lead into the top of the seventh. Richmond pulled within two by scoring twice in both the seventh and eighth. An RBI-double from Reilly and a slow rolling infield hit to first base from White scored Richmond's seventh inning runs.
Three Ram errors in the eighth led to Richmond's two runs. Riggi drove in one with a fielder's choice and Poiter garnered his second RBI of the day with a single to the right side.
VCU, leading 9-7 in the bottom of the eighth, closed the door on any Spider chances by scoring seven on five hits and one error. The Rams blasted two two-run homers and had two run-scoring singles.
The Spiders managed only one run in the top half of the ninth when Justice doubled down the leftfield line to score White from second, who reached after being hit to leadoff the inning.
Jones suffered his first career loss, giving up seven runs (six earned) on six hits and seven walks. The righthander struck out two and hit one batter in 4.0 innings.
The Spiders return to Pitt Field Tuesday, March 15, to host Towson in the first of three midweek contests before opening Atlantic 10 play Saturday. Game time Tuesday is set for 2:30 p.m.
Game Notes
- The Spiders now trail in the all-time series with VCU, 35-33 (.485).
- Junior Andrew Justice has now hit safely in six-straight games and driven in at least one in the last three for Richmond.
- Freshman Alex Hale currently has a career-best three-game hit streak.
- Head coach Ron Atkins is now 27-32 (.458) against the Rams in his 21 seasons at Richmond.
