University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Xavier
Richmond Holds Off Xavier, 5-4, In A-10 Championship Elimination Game
05/26/2007 | Baseball
May 26, 2007
DAYTON, Ohio - Cameron Brown hit a two-run homer and junior Brian Alas nailed down his league-leading 14th save as third-seeded Richmond avoided elimination with a 5-4 win over No. 4 Xavier on Friday afternoon at the 2007 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship.
Xavier wasted no time in the bottom of the first as Adam Pasono opened the inning with a base hit and after stealing second came around to score on an RBI single by Neil Lingren. The Musketeers would add a second run in the inning as Robbie Kelley singled and later scored on a wild pitch by Richmond starter Ian Marshall.
However, the Spiders would answer with four runs in the top of the second off of XU freshman starter Zac Richard. Joe White started the rally with a lead off double, while Matt McKenna and Alex Wotring would add RBI singles. The big blow in the inning came off the bat of Brown, who sent a 1-0 offering by Richard into the seats in left to give the Spiders a 4-2 lead.
"That was a big hit because we could have folded tents after getting down early," said head coach Ron Atkins. "We did a good job for the most part today and I'm proud of the guys."
After XU junior Kyle Cowden retired the side in the top of the fourth, the Musketeers even the score at 4-4 as Andy Zellers and senior Matt Waskerwitz scored on a two-run single by Pasono.
The Spiders regained the lead for good in the top of the sixth as catcher Hank Coogan opened the inning with a single and scored when XU reliever Mark Janszen issued a bases loaded walk to senior Vince Riggi.
Xavier mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh as Kelley was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a single by designated hitter Sean Farrell. Senior Adam Lipski then lined a single to right but McKenna fielded it on one hop and delivered a perfect strike to Coogan to get the sliding Kelley at the plate.
Marshall allowed four runs on 10 hits in eight innings. He fanned three and did not walk a batter in improving to 4-4 on the season. Alas allowed a two-out single to Lingren in the ninth before getting first baseman Robbie Kelley to ground into a fielder's choice to secure the win.
"He [Ian] came in and in a clutch situation, threw strikes most of the day and gave us eight big innings. He pitched a heck of a ballgame," said Atkins.
Second basemen Benji Marshall led the Spiders with three hits, while White added two hits and spectacular over-the-shoulder catch in deep centerfield to end the sixth inning.
