University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
St. Bonaventure
Spiders Take Series-Opener From Bonnies, 2-1
04/24/2009 | Baseball
April 24, 2009
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Freshman Adam McConnell had three hits, including the go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning and junior starter Stephen Owens allowed just a run over 7.1 innings to lead the Richmond baseball team past St. Bonaventure, 2-1, Friday in St. Bonaventure, N.Y. The win is Richmond's second-straight and the fifth in the last seven games.
McConnell finished the day three-for-five with an RBI, run scored and two stolen bases, while senior RF Ryan Metzroth had two of Richmond's nine hits.
The key Atlantic 10 win improved the Spiders to 18-17 overall and 7-9 in the league, keeping Richmond with 1.5 games of the sixth and final playoff spot. The Bonnies, who were limited to just four hits, slipped to 18-16, 5-10.
With the game tied heading to the ninth inning, pinch hitter Andrew Lowry drew a lead off then moved into scoring position with a one-out stolen base. Pinch-hitter Evan Stehle ripped a single to right field, putting runners at the corners and McConnell followed by chopping a single up the middle with the infield pulled in.
The Bonnies turned a double-play behind starter Cael Johnson to end further trouble in the ninth, but the damage had been done. Johnson allowed nine hits in the complete game but fell to 4-3.
Senior closer Brian Alas fanned two in the ninth to slam on the door on his sixth save of the season and the 24th of his career to extend the Spiders' career record.
Richmond improved to 7-1 this season in one-run ball games.
A solo home run by Kevin Suminski to lead off the seventh inning broke up Owens' shutout bid and drew the homestanding Bonnies even at 1-1. Owens escaped further trouble in the seventh and turned the game over to senior Josh Horn with one out in the eighth.
Owens fanned four and walked one, allowing four hits in 7.1 innings. He faced just two batters over the minimum through six innings. Horn was credited with the victory and improved to a team-best 4-1.
Junior SS Victor Croglio came up with a pair of key defensive plays behind Horn and Alas late in the game. With the go-ahead run at third and two outs in the eighth, Suminski chopped a ground ball to Croglio, who dove and flipped to McConnell at second to get the force out. Then in the ninth, Croglio charged a slow-running ground ball and gunned down Brad Steinbach for the second out.
Richmond drew first blood in the first inning as McConnell led off the game by reaching on a bunt single, moved to scoring position with a steal and scored on Billy Barber's RBI double.
The series continues in Upstate New York Saturday at noon.
