VCU Edges Spiders In A-10 Tournament First Round

Wednesday, May 21

St. Louis, Mo.

11:00 AM

University of Richmond

24-17-1

No. 4 VCU

35-18

Richmond

VCU

05/21/2014 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Richmond Athletics

ST. LOUIS – The University of Richmond Spiders baseball team lost in the first round of the 2014 Atlantic 10 Tournament to VCU, 5-2, on Wednesday morning in St. Louis.

With the loss, the No. 5-seed Spiders will play either No. 2-seed Saint Joseph's, No. 3-seed George Mason, No. 6-seed Dayton or No. 7-seed Fordham on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. EST. With the win, No. 4-seed VCU advances to play No. 1-seed Saint Louis on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Senior OF Nick Poulos and 3B Matt Dacey each drove in a run for Richmond, while both senior C Cory Moheit and junior OF Ryan Cook had two hits for the Spiders in the setback.

On the mound, LHP Zak Sterling pitched well again for the third-straight year in the A-10 Tournament. The junior pitched seven innings, allowing just three runs while striking out five but took the hard-luck loss.

After VCU struck for one run in both the first and second innings, the Spiders got on board in the top of the third. After singles from Cook and Moheit, runners were on the corners for Poulos.

On a 1-0 count, Poulos laid down a great squeeze bunt down the first-base line. VCU pitcher Heath Dwyer came off the mound to field and threw home, but a great slide from Cook missed the tag, cutting the VCU lead in half, 2-1.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Rams had another one-run frame, pushing their advantage over the Spiders to 3-1.

Two innings later, Richmond threatened but was unable to cut in the VCU lead. With one out, Dacey reached on an error and moved to second base on a bunt single from SS Tyler Beckwith.

DH Kurtis Brown followed and hit a towering fly ball that fell in to the outfield. Not knowing if the ball was going to be caught, Beckwith was cut down at second base on a force play. A groundout ended the Spider threat and VCU maintained a two-run lead after six innings.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Spiders again cut the Rams' lead to just one run. After singles from Moheit and OF Jansen Fraser, 2B Mike Small drew a walk to load the bases. Two batters later, Dacey came to the plate and drew a walk of his own, cutting the Rams' lead to 3-2.

After VCU added a pair of runs to its lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, Richmond entered the top of the ninth needing a rally, trailing 5-2.

With one out, Small singled to the shortstop to get on base for 1B Doug Kraeger. The sophomore blasted his 20th double of the season off the fence in left-center field, but Small was cut down at the plate trying to score from first. A fly-out ended the potential rally as VCU held on to beat the Spiders, 5-2.

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