University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Longwood
Cafagna Solid, But Spiders Fall To Lancers, 3-2, In Baseball
03/04/2008 | Baseball
March 4, 2008
FARMVILLE, Va. - The Richmond baseball team couldn't hold an early 2-0 lead and fell to Longwood, 3-2, Tuesday afternoon in Farmville, Va. Ryan Metzroth had two hits while freshman Anthony Cafagna went five innings with eight strikeouts in his first collegiate start. The Spiders return home to host George Mason Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday's game was a reversal of fortune for the Spiders (3-6-1), who had allowed at least one first-inning run in seven of the their first nine games. Cafagna shut down the Lancers over the first four innings while his offense claimed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second.
"For his first collegiate start I thought Anthony did a great job of throwing strikes and keeping his composure," said head coach Mark McQueen. "I was proud of the way he handled himself on the mound and he kept us in the ballgame."
The Spiders benefited from three walks, two errors and a balk in the second inning. Cameron Brown led the inning off with a walk and Andrew Lowry, attempting to sacrifice bunt, reached on the first error.
With two outs, starting pitcher John Farrell walked Ryan Metzroth ground ball put the Spiders up 2-0.
After Cafagna set down the first two batters of the fourth inning with called third strikes, Casey Havers and Justin Morreim hit back-to-back singles, Marcus Powell and Nick vonGersdorff had a pair of RBIs to draw even.
Longwood (3-3) took the lead in the fifth with two outs when an error on an infield ground ball scored Robbie Bailey from third base.
Josh Horn pitched three solid innings of scoreless relief, scattering three hits with two strikeouts. The junior's work allowed the Spider offense to bring the go-ahead runs to plate in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
Lance Harting pitched the final 2.1 innings for Longwood to keep the lead in tact. He was credited with save, while Farrell went 6.2 innings to get the win. Cafagna was on the short end of the decision.
With the exception of two games, no Spider game this season has been decided by more than three runs. In each of those setbacks (and one tie), Richmond has had the tying or go-ahead runs on base or at the plate at least once in late innings.
