University of Richmond Athletics
Flyers In Town This Weekend For Key A-10 Baseball Series At Pitt Field
04/09/2009 | Baseball
April 9, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - On the heels of a stretch that saw Richmond play nine of its last 10 games away from Pitt Field, the Spiders are back at their friendly confines this weekend to host the Dayton Flyers in a key Atlantic 10 series.
WEEKEND LIVE LINKS:
SHORT HOPS
• Friday's game versus Dayton kicks off an eight-game homestand for the Spiders, that also includes in-city rival VCU next Wednesday, A-10 rival Duquesne next weekend and Commonwealth rival Old Dominion on April 22. The Spiders are home just four more times after the ODU game.
• The Richmond offense finally showed some life Wednesday night, but the Spiders ran out of outs in their upset bid at second-ranked North Carolina. Richmond peeled off eight unanswered runs, including two in the ninth inning, but the Tar Heels held off Richmond and improved to 26-7 on the season.
• Richmond enters the weekend 13-13 overall and 3-6 in the A-10, which currently puts the Spiders' 10th in the league. Meanwhile, Dayton cruises in to the Capital City at 18-13 overall and 6-3 in league play, which is tied for third. Both teams were swept last weekend (Richmond by Saint Louis and Dayton by Rhode Island). The Spiders are 10-5 at Pitt Field this season, while the Flyers are 3-7 away from Time Warner Cable Stadium.
• Five of the Richmond freshmen played key roles in Wednesday's night game at UNC as Adam McConnell (pictured), Phil Ruzbarsky and Robby Massar went a combined seven-of-11 at the plate with three RBI and three runs, while relievers Zach Jung and Alex Maffett each fired scoreless frames.
• Junior RHP Stephen Owens gets the start for Richmond Friday, owning a 2.83 ERA over his five starts this season. Dayton counters with freshman righty Mike Hauschild, who is 2-2 in 2009 with two complete games to his credit.
• Junior 3B Cameron Brown's .351 average leads the team, while senior RF Ryan Metzroth brings a five-game hitting streak into the Dayton series and has seen his average rise to .324. Metzroth homered at UNC and leads the team with 25 RBI.
