University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Dayton
Zielinski, Spiders Blank Dayton 5-0 In Series-Opener
04/25/2008 | Baseball
April 25, 2008
DAYTON, Ohio - Matt Zielinski threw Richmond's first nine-inning, complete-game shutout since 2004, leading the Spiders to a 5-0 win over Dayton in the first of a key three-game Atlantic 10 baseball series Friday in Dayton. The sophomore lefty fanned four with no walks and allowed just eight hits in his second career complete-game as Richmond won for the first time in six tries.
Evan Stehle launched a two-run homer for the Spiders in the first inning and Zielinski did the rest, holding a red-hot Dayton club to eight singles. Just two Flyers advanced past second base in the contest, which lasted two hours and 14 minutes.
"Zielinski put us on his back and carried us," said head coach Mark McQueen. "He gave us exactly what we needed today and the defense made every play behind him."
Zielinski, who pitched a complete-game, six-hitter to beat Massachusetts, 3-1, last season became the first Spider since Thomas Martin blanked George Washington, 3-0, on May 27, 2004 in the second round of the A-10 Championship to go the distance in a nine-inning whitewash. The Southampton, Pa. native is now 4-1 this season and has allowed just 13 earned runs in his last 35.1 innings.
The win improved the Spiders to 16-22-2 overall, 7-8-1 in Atlantic 10 play and snapped a six-game winless streak, while Dayton fell to 24-17, 7-9. The Flyers had won six-straight, eight of their last nine and were averaging 10.5 run per game in that stretch.
Richmond drew first blood, tagging starter Lucas Farden for two runs in the top of the first thanks to the sixth home run of the season from Stehle. Senior Joe White led the game off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a balk. And with two outs and the count 3-2 on Stehle, the sophomore bombed his two-run shot to left and gave Richmond the early advantage.
The Spiders opened the lead to 3-0 in the third after a pair of singles by Chris Cuppia and White to get the inning started. Hank Coogan's bunt moved each into scoring position and Ryan Metzroth's sac fly plated the third Richmond run.
"I was proud of how we played today all around," said McQueen. "Zielinski gave us a great outing, the defense made plays and we got some timely hitting with runners in scoring position."
With Zielinski continuing to roll, the Spiders tacked on two more in the fifth off a pair of RBI singles from Coogan and Metzroth and capped the scoring.
The UD offense threatened in the seventh after a pair of singles with no out, but Zielinski rolled a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Jimmy Roesinger and set pinch-hitter Stephen Konsler down swinging in the next at bat to end the frame.
Farden (3-6), who fanned nine in eight innings, was on the short end of the decision.
All but one Spider in the lineup had at least a hit as the visitors pounded out 10 hits in the victory. White finished two-for-three and scored twice, while Mike Mergenthaler was two-for-four. Stehle and Metzroth each had two RBI.
The Spiders and Flyers continue their three-game set Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
