University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
at Old Dominion
Spiders Take Down No. 25 Old Dominion On The Road, 8-3
05/09/2006 | Baseball
May 9, 2006
NORFOLK, Va. - Senior Ben Zeskind's two-out two-run double in the fourth capped off a come-from-behind effort Tuesday night at No. 25 Old Dominion, as the Spiders topped the Monarchs, 8-3, at Bud Metheny Complex in Norfolk, Va. Freshman Kyle Leith garnered his first-career win after pitching 4.1 innings of scoreless relief, scattering four hits and fanning two. With the win, its first over a ranked foe since June 8, 2002, Richmond improves to 20-28 overall.
The Spiders jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first after sophomore Joe Mahoney extended his hit streak to 13 games with a double to rightfield. Freshman Cameron Brown wasted no time garnering his 33rd RBI of the season by driving in Mahoney with a single through the hole at short.
Sophomore Brian Alas, who made his first start of the season, scattered four hits over the first two innings then gave up consecutive run-scoring hits in the third allowing Old Dominion to take the lead, 3-1. Alas, who was making his 24th appearance of the season, which is tied for second-most all-time at Richmond, finished his four-inning start by allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk. The Port Washington, N.Y., native also fanned one and stranded six of ODU's 12 runners left on base in the game.
Richmond came roaring back to take the game-winning lead in the top half of the fourth. After Brown and Coogan reached to leadoff the inning, junior Matt McKenna doubled with one out to score one. Coogan tried to score on the play, but was thrown out at the plate. The Monarchs elected to change pitchers after the McKenna double, only to have freshman Victor Croglio tie the game in the next at-bat with a single centerfield. Junior Benji Marshall followed with a walk to put runners at first and second for Zeskind. The Miami, Fla., native came through in the clutch for the third-straight game, doubling to left-center for the go-ahead RBI.
Zeskind has been responsible for each of the Spiders' three-straight come-from-behind efforts dating back to May 6 against La Salle. The Richmond centerfielder hit a three-run game-winning homer in the top of the ninth of game two against La Salle. In game three against the Explorers, he put the Spiders in front with a solo homer in the top of the 10th, and his two-run double in the fourth tonight marked the game-winning RBI. He now is tied for the team-lead with eight go-ahead RBI on the season.
The Spiders offense, now hitting .294 on the season, did not let up scoring two more in the fifth to up their lead to 7-3. Croglio came through again with his second and third RBI of the game. The Fayetteville, N.Y., native doubled to left, allowing junior Vince Riggi and Coogan to score.
Leith, who is now 5-for-5 in holding leads out of the bullpen, scattered four hits over the next 4.1 innings to earn the first win of his career. The Naples, Fla., native did not allow a run while walking two and fanning two. He also stranded six in his relief outing.
Richmond, which now has 12 come-from-behind wins on the season, pushed one more across in the top half of the ninth, when junior Alex Wotring garnered his first hit of the evening -- a solo homer to left-center.
After Leith struckout the first hitter in the bottom of the ninth, junior Lane Holby came on to retire the next two in order to end the contest at 8-3 in favor of Richmond.
The Spiders will next open a crucial three-game Atlantic 10 Conference series with George Washington this weekend at Pitt Field. The clash between the two teams currently in a tie for seventh in the A-10 standings begins at 3 p.m., Friday, May 12. First pitch Saturday is slated for 1 p.m., when Richmond will honor its six seniors prior to gametime. Sunday's gametime has been changed to 10 a.m., to accommodate the 2006 Commencement Ceremonies later that afternoon.
Game Notes
-- Every hitter in the Spiders' order recorded at least one basehit on the evening.
-- Senior Ben Zeskind's has recorded go-ahead RBI in each of the last three games for Richmond, and is now tied for the team-lead with eight in 2006.
-- Freshman Kyle Leith garnered his first-career win by pitching 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. He is now 5-for-5 in holding leads out of the bullpen.
-- Sophomore Brian Alas made his first start of the season and his 24th appearance on the year. His 24 appearances rank tied for second on the Spiders' single-season record list.
-- Sophomore Joe Mahoney extended his hit streak to 13 games in the first inning with a double to rightfield.
-- Freshman Victor Croglio ended his night by going 2-for-4 with a run scored and game-high three RBI.
-- Junior Lane Holby finished the game off by recording two-straight outs in the bottom half of the ninth inning.
-- Sophomores Ben Zeskind's drove in multiple runs on the night.
