University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
*Xavier
Spiders Sweep Atlantic 10 Weekend Series Against Xavier
03/20/2005 | Baseball
March 20, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The Spider baseball team scored four unearned runs with two out in the fourth inning to win its third-straight 4-2, sweeping the Atlantic 10 series with Xavier Sunday at Pitt Field. Richmond has now won four-straight with come-from-behind efforts and has also swept all four of its Atlantic 10 opening weekend series dating back to the 2002 season. The win propels the Spiders back to .500 with a 9-9 mark overall and improves them to 3-0 in the A-10. Xavier drops to 5-14 and 0-3 in the Conference.
Xavier took the early lead with a run in the first inning. The Musketeers recorded consecutive two-out doubles to drive in the run off Richmond starter, freshman Stephen Owens. The Spiders threatened in two of the next three innings by getting a runner in scoring position, but could not drive it in.
Xavier scored again in the fourth when Matt Waskerwitz fouled out to leftfield with a runner at third. The fly was deep enough for the run to score on the sac-fly.
Richmond then posted a rally to take its first and only lead of the game. Freshman Drew Poiter singled with one out and was followed by a sac-bunt attempt from freshman Hank Coogan. An error on the play put runners at first and second with one out. Freshman Austin Reilly was hit by a pitch to load the bases for sophomore Anthony Sandstrom, who drove a sac-fly to right field for Richmond's first run. Freshman Joe White then came to the plate and singled through the right side to score the tying run in Coogan. White was followed by junior Ben Zeskind, who also singled through the right side, driving in two for the Spider lead.
Xavier threatened twice over the remaining five innings. In the sixth Owens, who picked up his first career win, loaded the bases with one out, but forced an inning-ending double play. Later in the eighth, the Musketeers loaded the bases with two outs against freshman reliever Alex Hale, but junior Derek Duclos came on to fan the next hitter and stifle the rally.
Duclos went on to fan two in the ninth and pick up his first save of the season and the second of his career. Owens worked six innings in his fifth start of the season, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and striking out a career-high five.
The Spiders return to Pitt Field Tuesday, March 22, to host UMBC in a single game. First pitch Tuesday is set for 2:30 p.m.
Game Notes
- The Spiders have now swept all four of their Atlantic 10 opening weekends dating back to the inaugural season in 2002.
- Junior Derek Duclos appeared in his second game since undergoing arm surgery in the offseason, and picked up the second save of his career.
- Junior Ben Zeskind extended his hit streak to five games with a two-run single in the fourth inning.
- Zeskind's go-ahead RBI in the fourth was his second of the season and it also marked his first game-winning RBI of the year.
- Freshman Alex Hale has yet to allow a run in four relief appearances and has compiled six punchouts in 4.2 innings.
