University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
*George Washington
Baseball Halts Skid In Dramatic Fashion With 10-9 Win
04/17/2005 | Baseball
April 17, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - With the bases loaded and the Spiders clinging to a one-run lead, junior John Richardson slammed the door on a George Washington comeback with a strikeout and ground out to earn his first career save, in just his fourth collegiate appearance, and help Richmond snap a 10-game losing skid with a 10-9 Atlantic 10 victory Sunday afternoon at Pitt Field.
The Spiders pounded their way to a 9-3 lead after six innings but had to hold on when the Colonials scored six runs in their final three at-bats. A career day from Spider designated hitter Ryan Metzroth, who collected his first three collegiate hits, and a two-home run effort from junior Ben Zeskind led a 12-hit attack that salvaged the final contest of a three-game conference series.
In the ninth, Spider closer John Cronin allowed a base hit and a walk before a sacrifice bunt put the runners in scoring position. The Spiders intentionally walked lead-off hitter Ryan Roberson to load the bases. Cronin then walked Geoff Milsolm to force in a run and bring George Washington within one, 10-9. Cronin was lifted for Richardson who struck out Tom Shanley, who was hitting .405 at the time, and enduced a groundout from Mickey Shupin to end the game.
The dramatic finish completed a high-scoring affair that featured several key hits. Anthony Sandstrom's second home run of the season carried over the right field wall and gave the Spiders a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. His homer brought home Matt McKenna who had doubled in the previous at-bat.
The Colonials took a one-run lead with a three-run third. After Michael Parker doubled down the right field line, right fielder Brad Rosenblat launched his second home run of the series over the scoreboard. Shanley later doubled down the left field line, moved to third on an infield single and scored on Josh Goldberg's sacrifice fly to center.
Zeskind walked to open the bottom of the third and came around to score the first of his four runs, tying the game 3-3. The center fielder stole second, moved to third on an errant throw by GW catcher Joe Michalski and scored on a Joe White single through the right side.
Zeskind ran his career-long hit streak to 12 games with a solo home run to start a five-run fifth. After a strikeout, Matt McKenna followed with an infield single and both later advanced on a double steal. When Metzroth singled through the right side, his third hit of the afternoon, Hale scored and McKenna then came home when Rosenblat's throw eluded the Colonial catcher. The Spiders batted around on five hits and led 8-3 after five innings.
Freshman Brian Alas relieved starter Stephen Owens, who earned the win (2-2) after going 5.0 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits, and set down the Colonials in order in the top of the sixth. In the home half, Zeskind started another inning with a walk and came around to score his third run of the game on a Mahoney groundout. It was Mahoney's third RBI of the afternoon.
The visitors closed to 9-6 with three runs in the seventh. The big hit in the frame was a two-run single back up the middle by Goldberg.
Derek Duclos and Cronin walked the bases loaded in the eighth, before Cronin hit Mickey Shupin and gave a free pass to Goldberg, forcing in two runs and making the score 9-8. Cronin got out of the frame when Sandstrom turned an inning-ending, double-play.
Richmond answered in its eighth at-bat and extended the lead to 10-8 when, for the second time in the game, Zeskind led off an inning with a home run. He is now tied with Mahoney for the team lead with five dingers.
The Spiders return to action at 3 p.m. on Tuesday when they host Liberty.
Game Notes
• The four home runs was a season high for Richmond. It was also the first time this season a Spider had hit two homers in a game.
• Richmond's home runs from Ben Zeskind and Joe Mahoney in the fifth marked the first time Richmond had two homers in the same inning this season.
• Multiple-hit games were recorded by Zeskind (15th), Ryan Metzroth (1st).
• Multiple-RBI games were recorded by Mahoney (7th), Zeskind (5th) and Anthony Sandstrom's (3rd).
• The win was Stephen Owens' first decision since a win against Xavier on March 20.
• The Spiders have lost two-of-three to George Washington during the regular season each of the past two seasons.
• Richmond's 10 runs was its most since scoring 11 in a 11-10 victory against Xavier on March 19.
