University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No. 2 Charlotte
Late Spider Rally Falls Short Against Charlotte
05/22/2013 | Baseball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The University of Richmond Spiders baseball team dropped a hard-fought game to Charlotte on Tuesday afternoon, 6-5, in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
Freshman Tyler Beckwith was 4-for-4 on the day with a RBI and a stolen base, while freshman Jansen Fraser drove in two runs. Senior Jacob Mayers and junior Nick Poulos had two hits each for the Spiders, while classmate Chris Bell drew four walks and stole a base. Juniors Adam Forrer and Cory Moheit each drove in a run for the Spiders.
Sophomore LHP Zak Sterling was solid for the Spiders on Wednesday afternoon, tossing six innings and allowing three runs, two earned, while striking out three.
After a scoreless first inning, the Spiders got the scoring started in the top of the second. Leading off, Poulos reached base after getting hit by a pitch. The junior then stole second base and later moved to third after a sacrifice bunt from Beckwith. Next up was Fraser, who lined the first pitch he saw to right-center field, giving the Spiders a 1-0 lead with his RBI single.
The 49ers battled back in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at 1-1 headed to the top of the fifth on a RBI single from Brett Lang.
In the top of the fifth, however, the Spiders answered right back with a pair of runs. After drawing a leadoff walk and stealing second base, Bell moved to third after Mayers reached on an error by the Charlotte third baseman.
Forrer came to the plate next, giving the Spiders a lead with a RBI infield single to the shortstop. Two batters later, Beckwith singled to shallow right field, scoring Mayers from second base to push Richmond's lead to 3-1.
Leading by one run in the bottom of the seventh, the 49ers took advantage of a two-out error that would have gotten the Spiders out of the frame. Charlotte scored four runs after the error, taking a 6-3 lead.
Still trailing by three in the top of the ninth, the Spiders were able to bring the tying run to the plate after an error and a bunt single from Poulos. With one out, Beckwith singled to right field to load the bases.
Fraser came through for the Spiders with a single through the left side, cutting the Charlotte lead to 6-4. Moheit followed, trimming the 49er lead to one with a RBI fielder's choice to the shortstop. The rally ended there, however, as a groundout ended the late threat.
The No. 7-seeded Richmond Spiders will face now face either the No. 3-seeded Rhode Island Rams or the No. 6-seeded La Salle Explorers this evening at 8:30 p.m.
