University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
#vs. George Washington
Spider Baseball Wins Another Game In The Atlantic 10 Championship, 10-3, Against George Washington
05/26/2005 | Baseball
May 26, 2005
DAYTON, Ohio - Freshman Joe Mahoney drove in three runs and junior right fielder Andrew Justice slugged a two-run homer as Richmond upended second-seeded George Washington Thursday afternoon, 10-3, at the 2005 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championships in Dayton, Ohio.
In search of its second-ever A-10 crown, Richmond (22-33) will meet top-seeded Rhode Island (32-19), Friday, May 27 at noon. The Rams topped Dayton, 7-4, to open their A-10 Championship appearance earlier Thursday.
"We came out and swung the bats, we executed the bunts, and did the little things today it took to win," Richmond head coach Ron Atkins said. "I couldn't have scripted it much better."
Mahoney's RBI double in the top of the first inning off GW starter Derrik Lutz scored junior centerfielder Ben Zeskind from second, giving the Spiders an early 1-0 lead. Richmond then struck for three runs in the fifth on an RBI hit by Mahoney and Justice's round-tripper over the 381-ft. sign in left-center.
After Geoff Milsom got the Colonials on the board in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single, the Spiders added three more runs in the top half of the sixth to stretch their lead to 7-1. Zeskind drew a bases loaded walk and sophomore second baseman Anthony Sandstrom reached on an error, scoring freshman catcher Alex Hale, one of three GW miscues on the afternoon. Mahoney then added his 41st RBI of the year on an infield groundout, scoring freshman Austin Reilly.
"We've won two games in a row against two good teams people didn't think we would beat, so we are looking forward to keeping it going tomorrow as the underdog," Mahoney said.
GW climbed to within 7-3 on a two-run homer by centerfielder Matt Owens off freshman starter Stephen Owens, his sixth of the season. Owens then retired senior Joe Michalski on a fly ball to right to complete his six-inning stint. The Spiders tacked on one in the seventh and two more in the ninth on an RBI double by freshman Joe White and a run-scoring single by Hale.
A First Team All-Conference selection, Lutz (8-1) suffered his first loss in 11 starts this season after allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits and added five walks in 5.2 innings. Owens allowed seven hits and struck out one to improve to 5-2 on the season.
"I can't say enough about (Stephen Owens)," Atkins said. "He had his off-speed pitches, he spotted his balls, and with a big ballpark, we had a chance to catch it."
Richmond will look for its third-straight victory Friday, May 27, when it faces top-seeded Rhode Island at noon, at Fifth Third Field in Dayton, Ohio. The Spiders, who will face the Rams' ace left hander Zack Zuercher, were swept by Rhode Island earlier this season in a series in Kingston, R.I. Richmond was outscored 33-6 in the series and allowed Rhode Island to hit .417 in the three-game set.
The Spiders will send junior right hander Ja Jones to the hill Friday. The Brunswick, Ga., native brings a 3-3 mark into what will be his 12th start of the season. He also boasts a 4.91 ERA in 66.0 innings.
Game Notes
- The Spiders improve their all-time record in A-10 Championship history to 11-5.
- Freshman Joe Mahoney recorded his 10th go-ahead RBI of the season and his fourth game-winning RBI in 2005. It also marked the second time in as many games the Troy, N.Y., native has been responsible for the winning run.
- Freshman Stephen Owens is now 5-0 against Atlantic 10 Conference teams.
- All but one of the nine Richmond hitters recorded a hit, while all but one of the nine hitters scored at least one run.
- Richmond's bullpen in today's game, comprised of junior Derek Duclos and senior John Cronin, did not allow a run or walk, gave up four hits, and fanned two.
- Mahoney's three-RBI day marked the fifth time this season the first baseman has driven in three in one game.
