University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Seton Hall
White, Barber Lead Richmond's Comeback Over Seton Hall
03/01/2008 | Baseball
March 1, 2008
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Joe White ripped a two-out single in the eighth to put Richmond up for good, capping a three-run rally as the Spiders defeated Seton Hall, 6-5, in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Pitt Field. Freshman Billy Barber went 4-for-4 with two triples and three RBIs as the Spiders remained unbeaten in three consecutive games.
Another freshman, Mike Mergenthaler had two hits and blasted his first collegiate home run - a solo shot to right field in the third inning. Alex Hale, who pitched the final 2.2 innings, picked up his third win of the season by allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
Hale, who led the Spiders with eight wins last season, is spotless in four appearances out of the bullpen in 2008. The senior has factored in all three wins, yielding just three hits with 10 Ks in 9.0 innings of work.
Barber tied the game in the eighth, roping the second of his two three-baggers down the right field line to score Cameron Brown, who drew a walk with one out. White's single, which extended his hitting streak to seven games, put the Spiders up for good and marked the fourth time this season the Spiders (3-3-1) have used late-inning come-backs to tie or win.
Friday, Richmond rallied with six unanswered to tie Bucknell, 7-7, just two days after scoring five unanswered runs to beat Longwood, 7-6, in extra innings.
Richmond surrendered three first-inning runs as Seton Hall's (1-4) Dan Lopez and A.J. Rusbarsky each singled to start the game and Mark Pappas ripped a three-run homer to left field as the game's third batter.
Starter Brian Farrell settled in after the first and faced just two batters over the minimum through the next two innings with six strikeouts as the Spiders chipped away at the deficit.
After singling to lead off the second inning, Ryan Metzroth scored from third on a double play. Mergenthaler's homer made it a 3-2 game in the third.
Richmond would draw even in the fourth inning when Barber ripped a single through the left side past a drawn in SHU infield. Brown, who doubled to lead off the inning, scored from third.
Greg Miller helped Seton Hall reclaim the lead, ripping a two-RBI double down the left field line in the fifth to end Farrell's day. Stephen Owens pitched 1.2 scoreless innings of relief ahead of Hale.
Barber's first collegiate triple pulled Richmond within a run at 5-4 in the sixth inning.
