University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
UMBC
Spiders' Late Inning Rally Not Enough As They Fall To UMBC, 10-8
03/22/2005 | Baseball
March 22, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The Richmond baseball team out-hit its opponent for the 10th time this season, but it was not enough as it fell 10-8 to Maryland-Baltimore County Tuesday at Pitt Field. The Spiders, who had won their last four at Pitt Field, fall to 9-10 overall, while the Retrievers improve to 3-8 on the season.
UMBC took the lead in the fourth when a lead-off walk from Richmond starter, freshman David Solan, was followed by three-straight hits. Two of the base knocks drove in runs while the other two runs came via a balk and fielder's choice.
The Spiders did not post a run until the fifth when freshman Joe White and junior Ben Zeskind each garnered one-out hits. White, who doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch, scored on another wild pitch. Zeskind stole second then scored on a double to left-center by freshman Joe Mahoney.
The Retrievers extended their lead to 10-2 in the seventh with six runs on five hits and two Spider errors. Mike Scheffel led off the inning with a walk then moved to second on an errant pick-off attempt by reliever, junior Wyatt Stewart. He came around to score on a double from Joe Fowler. Another single scored UMBC's second run of the game before the first out was recorded. The out was followed by a single, RBI-double and two-run homer to push the Retrievers' total to 10.
Richmond mounted a comeback in each of the next three innings. White, Zeskind and junior Andrew Justice led off the seventh with three-straight base knocks as Justice's drove in White from third. Zeskind pulled the Spiders within six by scoring on Mahoney's sac-fly to left, but the rally was halted when sophomore Vince Riggi lined out to the first baseman who caught Justice leaning off second and doubled him up.
Sophomore Matt McKenna got another rally started in the eighth when he led off the inning with his career-tying third hit of the game, a triple to right-center. After freshman Hank Coogan was hit by a pitch, freshman Austin Reilly singled to score McKenna and move Coogan to third. Sophomore Anthony Sandstrom singled through the left side for his first RBI of the game, helping Richmond move within four. White walked and was followed by a sac-fly from Zeskind which scored Reilly. Justice then singled for his second consecutive RBI, but the rally quickly ended with two consecutive outs.
After sophomore Rob Berzinskas came on in the top half of ninth and fanned three-straight on 11 pitches, the Spiders got the first two on in their half of the ninth. A strikeout gave UMBC life and the next hitter, White, lined out to the pitcher who doubled freshman Drew Poiter, who pinch-hit for Coogan, off second for the final out of the game.
Richmond now will begin a four-game road trip tomorrow in Charlottesville, Va., against the Virginia Cavaliers. First pitch against the 'Hoos is set for 7 p.m. After their midweek contest with UVA, the Spiders will hit the road to face Temple in a three-game A-10 series in Philadelphia, Pa., March 26-27.
Game Notes
- The Spiders snapped a season-best three-game win streak.
- Two pitchers, junior John Richardson and sophomore Lee Rattigan, made their debuts on the hill.
- Freshman Matt McKenna (3-for-5) tied a career-high with three base knocks.
- Every Spider in the starting lineup garnered at least one base hit, and five tallied multi-hit games.
