University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
VCU
Big Seventh Inning Leads VCU Past Richmond, 8-4
04/16/2009 | Baseball
April 16, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - Making its first trip to Pitt Field since 2006, visiting VCU struck for five runs in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and beat Richmond, 8-4, Thursday. Junior SS Victor Croglio launched a three-run homer for the Spiders, who remain at home this weekend to host Duquesne in an Atlantic 10 series.
Croglio finished the day one-for-three with his third home run of the season, while freshman LF Phil Ruzbarsky scored twice. Freshman 2B Adam McConnell drove in a run as part of a ninth-inning rally for the Spiders.
Trailing 8-3 heading to the bottom of the last, the Spiders (14-16) made it interesting after Ruzbarsky reached with a one-out walk and Croglio was hit by a pitch. McConnell's RBI double to left-center scored Ruzbarsky and VCU turned the game over to Darryl Stringfield.
Pinch-hitter Ryan Mallory lifted a pop-up to shallow left field that looked like it would drop in, but Matt Leskiw made a diving catch then came up firing to double-off McConnell at second and end the ball game.
Stringfield's first save of the season ensured the first career win for Will Hirsh (1-), who fired 3.1 innings and allowed three hits and a run with three strikeouts. Richmond sophomore reliever Billy Falasco (0-3) took over for freshman starter Zach Jung in the sixth and was tagged the loss.
Jung fanned seven and walked just one over five innings in his first collegiate start, allowing four hits and three runs in the no decision.
VCU (17-12) batted around in the decisive seventh inning, scoring five times on five hits. With the infield pulled in, Doug Otto dealt the big blow with his two-RBI single up the middle that would stand as the game-winner. Otto was one of four to collect two hits as the Rams pounded out 11 in the victory.
The visitors scored twice in the first inning thanks to Justin Wright's two-run single and extended the lead to 3-0 in the second with Andrew Dimino's RBI single.
Croglio, who is batting .333 over Richmond's last six games and leads the team with two homers and nine RBI in that stretch, collected his third round-tripper of the season to tie the game at 3-3 in the second inning after Billy Barber led off with a single and Ruzbarsky reached on an error.
First pitch of Friday's game versus Duquesne is set for 3 p.m. at Pitt Field.
