University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
VCU
Richmond Falls To VCU, 11-5, At The Diamond
04/15/2008 | Baseball
April 15, 2008
RICHMOND, Va. - The Richmond baseball team rallied with three runs in the fifth, but could get no closer and fell to cross-town rival VCU, 11-5, Tuesday night at The Diamond downtown. The Spiders led 1-0 and 2-1, but couldn't overcome the five Ram runs in the third and fourth innings. Junior catcher Ryan Grant had three hits and drove in two runs for Richmond.
After the Spiders gave up six runs in the first four innings, the bullpen took over and held the Rams scoreless over the next three innings while the offense went to work. But VCU pulled away with five runs in the eighth to run away with its fifth win in the last seven games.
A transfer this season from Brevard (Fla.) College, Grant had his best day in a Spider uniform by going three-for-four at the plate with two RBI and a run scored, while gunning down a VCU steal attempt.
"That was a great game for eight innings," said head coach Mark McQueen. "I was really happy with how we bounced back from the weekend and proud of the way our young guys played, especially Grant. He did a great job both offensively and defensively for us and that was probably the best game I've seen play."
Freshmen Mike Mergenthaler and Derek Boliek and sophomore Evan Stehle each had a hit and an RBI for the Spiders, who slipped to 15-20-1 overall, while the homestanding Rams improved to 10-21. Richmond will look to even the season series when the two teams meet at Pitt Field next Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Richmond drew first blood, putting a run across off three hits in the second inning. Grant led off with a single and moved to third when the Spiders successfully executed a hit-and-run with Mergenthaler's single through the right side. Boliek laced a single to right to score Grant and the Spiders led 1-0.
The lead for Richmond was the first against VCU since March 12, 2005, but it was short-lived as the Rams struck for an unearned tally in the bottom of the frame thanks to an RBI single from Chris Jackson.
A Grant RBI single in the top of the third gave the Spiders the lead again at 2-1, but VCU answered right back in the bottom of the inning when Jared Bolden launched a three-run home run down the right-field line.
Starting pitcher Matt Trent had his day ended with no outs in the fourth when the Rams surged ahead 6-2 on their second homer of the night - a two-run shot from Joe Van Meter. Trent (1-3) was tagged with loss, allowing six runs on six hits in three innings of work.
Thanks to a three-run, four-hit fifth inning, Richmond carved into the VCU lead and made the score 6-5. Stehle roped a double to the gap in right-center to score Joe White, who reached on a lead-off single to start the inning. Grant singled home Stehle and a Mergenthaler ground out scored Ryan Metzroth, who singled earlier in the inning.
Richmond got 3.1 innings of scoreless relief from freshman Billy Falasco and junior Josh Horn, but Robbie Andrew's final four innings of relief kept the Spiders from getting any closer. Falasco went two innings with one hit and three strikeouts, while Horn punched out two in 1.1 no-hit innings. Andrews was credited with the save, while starter Michael Graham picked up the win.
"I was very pleased again with our middle relief," said McQueen. "That kept us in the ball game tonight and continues to be a bright spot for us."
The Rams broke the game open in the eighth, denting the scoreboard with five runs, highlighted by back-to-back two-RBI hits - a single from Richard Gonzalez and a triple from Bolden, who drove in five for the game with three hits.
The Spiders return to action Friday at Pitt Field when a critical three-game Atlantic 10 series begins with Rhode Island. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. between the two teams tied at 6-6 in the A-10 standings.
