University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
*at St. Bonaventure
Spiders Fall At St. Bonaventure; Zeskind Breaks Career Doubles Mark
05/18/2006 | Baseball
May 18, 2006
OLEAN, N.Y. - The Richmond baseball squad held a one-run lead after five, but a three-run homer in the sixth lifted the St. Bonaventure Bonnies to a 5-3 series-opening win in Olean, N.Y. Senior Ben Zeskind finished the day 2-for-4 with a double to become the all-time leader in career doubles at Richmond with 68. The Miami, Fla., native, who is now tied for the all-time career hits lead at Richmond with 307, broke the doubles mark held by both Sean Casey (1993-95) and John Dorman (1993-96). Richmond's sophomore Alex Hale will go in game two Friday, May 19, at noon.
In a rain-soaked game, the Bonnies got a 1-0 lead in the second thanks to a one-out double followed by a single through the left side. Senior Ja Jones worked seven innings in his eighth start of the season. The Brunswick, Ga., native allowed five runs on five hits and three walks to suffer the loss. Aside from two homers, a solo-shot in the fifth and a three-run homer in the sixth, he scattered two singles and a double while inducing two double-plays to get out of two frames.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, freshman Cameron Brown led-off the inning with a single up the middle. Sophomore Hank Coogan followed with a fielder's choice groundout to third, but beat the throw to first trying for the double-play. A groundout by junior Vince Riggi pushed Coogan to second before junior Matt McKenna tied the game with a single through the left side, plating Coogan.
After St. Bonaventure went down in order in their half of the fourth, Zeskind hit a one-out bloop into leftfield in the fifth. Aware of the wet conditions, Zeskind dug for two and was in sliding for the 68th double of his career. The two-bagger broke a 10-year record held by both John Dorman and former Spider great Sean Casey. The double also marked his first hit of the game. Zeskind later singled in the seventh to tie the all-time career hit mark of 307 held by David Reaver (2000-03). After Zeskind's double, Wotring doubled to score Zeskind for the go-ahead run. Sophomore Joe Mahoney followed Wotring with a slow-roller to short. The Spider first baseman beat out the throw, but the errant toss allowed Wotring to score from third for a 3-1 lead.
The Bonnies fought back in the fifth with a solo homerun to pull within one. Jones moved into the sixth which proved to be the big one for St. Bonaventure. A lead-off walk began the inning before a sac-bunt put a runner at second with one out. The Spiders elected to intentionally walk Brian Pellegrini, the leading hitter in the Atlantic 10, but SBU's Joe Rizzo made them pay with his 10th homer of the season. The three-run homer gave the Bonnies the lead for the eventual 5-3 win.
The Spiders threatened in the eighth after moving runners to second and third with one out, but could not get the big hit out of the bottom of the lineup.
The Spiders are still alive for the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. Richmond got help from Rhode Island, which topped UMass earlier today. Richmond must win the next two in the series, and have Charlotte sweep its home series with Fordham. The Spiders also need Duquesne to take two of three in its home series with George Washington, and hope Rhode Island can win one more from the Minutemen.
Sophomore Alex Hale will go for the Spiders in game two Friday, May 19, in contest slated for noon in Olean, N.Y.
Game Notes
-- Senior Ben Zeskind finished the day 2-for-4 with a double and single. The double broke Richmond's 10-year career doubles mark of 68 held by Sean Casey and John Dorman. Zeskind now needs just one hit in the next two games to become the Spiders all-time career hits leader. The current record of 307 is held by David Reaver as well as Zeskind.
-- Sophomore Vince Riggi both ended the game going 2-for-4 with two singles apiece.
-- Richmond outhit the Bonnies 10-6, raising its overall team average to .292.
-- Richmond has now given up 10 game-tying homers and 13 go-ahead homeruns in 2006.
