University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Jacksonville
Late Spider Rally Falls Just Short At Jacksonville
02/23/2013 | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A late, ninth inning rally fell just short on Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville, as the Richmond Spiders lost for the first time this year, 5-4. With the loss, Richmond falls to 5-1 on the season while the Dolphins improve to 2-4.
Senior 1B Bret Williams led the Spiders offensively on the day, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a RBI. Adam Forrer, Joey Vecchione and Tyler Beckwith all drove in runs as well for Richmond.
Sophomore LHP Zak Sterling (1-1) had a solid day despite taking the loss for the Spiders. Sterling pitched 5.2 innings while allowing just three runs and striking out three.
With the wind howling out to left field on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville, the Dolphins started the game with a leadoff home run to take an early lead. Richmond answered right back its second time at bat, tying the game at 1-1.
With one out, Williams doubled down the right field line and then moved to third on a single from freshman DH Jansen Fraser. Vecchione was up next and promptly tied the game with a RBI fielder's choice. Headed to the third, the game was tied 1-1.
Richmond continued the scoring in the top of the third, taking a 2-1 lead. With senior Matt Zink on second base after a leadoff single and a wild pitch, the senior OF moved to third when senior 3B Jacob Mayers reached on a JU error. Williams followed a clubbed a 1-2 offering down the right field line, his second of the day, to give Richmond a 2-1 lead.
Jacksonville responded in the bottom of the fourth with a run, tying the game at 2-2. The Dolphins then scored one run in both the fifth, seventh and eighth to take a 4-2 lead in to the ninth inning.
In the ninth for Richmond, the Spiders looked for a rally. With one out, Fraser drew a walk and was joined on base when junior Nick Poulos singled for the second time. With runners on first and second, pinch hitter Adam Forrer wasted little time, lining a first-pitch offering to right field to plate a run and cut the lead to 5-3.
With runners on the corners, freshman Tyler Beckwith cut the lead to just one with a RBI fielder's choice. After a walk to Zink, the tying fun was on second base for Bell. After working the count to 2-2, the JU pitcher induced a pop out, ending the Spider rally just one run short.
The Richmond Spiders baseball team will wrap up its series in Jacksonville against the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
