University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
*at Duquesne
Spiders Fall To Duquesne In The Ninth, 8-7
05/16/2005 | Baseball
May 16, 2005
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After rallying with five runs in the last two innings to tie Monday's rubber game at Duquesne, Richmond's baseball squad gave up the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to fall, 8-7. The loss drops the Spiders to 20-29 overall and 12-9 in the conference, while the Dukes won the series and improved to 17-31 and 11-10 in the A-10.
Sophomore Matt McKenna doubled to lead off the second inning and later scored on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. The Dukes answered in the bottom half off junior Ja Jones to tie the game a 1-1.
McKenna came through again in the third with an RBI-single. Freshman Alex Hale was hit by a pitch with one out then advanced two bases on a sac-bunt and wild pitch before he scored. Duquesne again knotted the scored by singling in a run with two outs in the bottom of the third.
The Dukes took their first lead of the game by posting single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. With the score 4-2 going into the seventh, the Dukes widened their lead with three off freshman reliever Brian Alas.
Richmond then put together a big inning of its own in the top of the eighth. The Spiders strung together three base hits to lead off inning, including a one-run double from freshman Joe White. A wild pitch and a sac-fly from sophomore Anthony Sandstrom scored two more for the Spiders, who pulled within two, 7-5.
Senior John Cronin kept the Dukes off the board in the eight by retiring three of four, and giving life to Richmond. The Spiders made it a game in the ninth with two more to tie it up a 9-9. After freshmen Hank Coogan and Ryan Metzroth reached with base hits, McKenna moved them over. White then came up with another big hit, a two-run game-tying single up the middle.
Cronin gave up a single to lead off the bottom of the ninth, then allowed a sac-bunt to move the runner to second. The righthander responded by striking out the next hitter, but with two outs Richmond elected to walk Duquesne's Mike Grecco and face Steve Maiolo. The shortstop ended the game by driving an 0-1 pitch through the left side for the game-winning RBI.
The Spiders will be back in action Tuesday, May 17, when they face Liberty at 2 p.m., in Lynchburg, Va.
Game Notes
- The loss in the bottom of the ninth marked the second time this season, and in the Duquesne series, the Spiders have lost a ballgame in the last at-bat.
- Freshman Joe White has driven in multiple runs in two consecutive games and in three of the last five.
- Sophomore Matt McKenna has recorded three-hit games in each of the last two.
- Freshmen Ryan Metzroth each have four-game hit streaks. Mahoney has recorded multi-hit games in each of the last two.
- McKenna's two doubles marked the 48th time since the 2001 season a Spider has garnered two two-baggers in one game. The last time it was accomplished was April 16, 2005 when Ben Zeskind did it against George Washington.
