University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Rhode Island
Williams Fires A Gem, But Rhody Scores In The Ninth To Beat Richmond, 3-2
04/22/2011 | Baseball
April 22, 2011
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - Sophomore LHP Bret Williams gave the Spiders a dominate start with a four-hitter over 8.1 innings but Rhode Island generated the go-ahead run in the ninth and beat Richmond, 3-2, Friday in the opener of a key Atlantic 10 series at Pitt Field.
The Spiders brought the winning run to the plate with no outs in the ninth when Mike Mergenthaler led off with a single, but URI reliever Dan Johnson rolled a ground-ball fielder's choice, followed by a game-ending double play to pick up the win.
Richmond had runners in scoring position every inning and stranded 12 on the bases in the game.
In a battle for the A-10's second-place spot, Richmond slipped to 19-17-2 overall, 6-4 in the league, while Rhode Island improved to 22-15, 8-5.
Williams was on the hook for the go-ahead Rhody run in the ninth, which was unearned, and was tagged his first loss of the season (5-1). The sophomore lefty scattered just four hits and three runs (two earned) over his 8.1 innings with seven strikeouts.
After Jeff Roy walked to lead off the top of the ninth for Rhode Island, he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and took third thanks to a passed ball. Roy scored when Milan Adam singled through the right side with the infield drawn in.
Adam finished the day three-for-four and launched a solo homer in third inning that put the Rams up 1-0. The visitors made it 2-0 in third with a Mike LeBel RBI single.
Richmond was able to capitalize on a Rhode Island error in the fourth inning and tie the game. After starter Anthony Pisani retired the first two batters of the frame, he walked Chris Bell, allowed a single from Derek Boliek and appeared to end the inning when Matt Zink hit a come-backer to the mound. But Pisani fired the ball wide of first, and both runners scored on the play.
Mergenthaler, Boliek and Barber each had two of Richmond's eight hits.
The series continues Saturday at Pitt Field at 2 p.m.
