University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Saint Joseph's
Spiders Fall In Sunday Doubleheader at Saint Joseph's
04/23/2017 | Baseball
MERION STATION, Pa. – The Spider Baseball program knows close games all too well. Sunday's doubleheader with Saint Joseph's in Alantic 10 play was no different.
Both games were pitching duels as starters Keenan Bartlett and Layne Looney had strong outings, as the duo combined for 10 strikeouts and allowed just six hits. However the Spiders dropped both contests.
Game 1: Saint Joseph's 2, Richmond 1
It was a pitchers' duel in the first game on Sunday's doubleheader. Bartlett got his third nod on the hill registering a season-best outing of six innings. The right-hander scattered four hits and struck out a season-best five in his outing.
An RBI single from Kyle Adams in the second scored Jonathan de Marte to give the Spiders a 1-0 advantage. Saint Joseph's looked to push across the tying run in the bottom half of the inning, but a throw from right fielder RJ Watters to Kyle Schmidt got the runner out at the plate, and preserved UR's lead.
The Hawks broke through in the third to even the score at 1-1 off an RBI single from Matt Maul.
Following Bartlett's season-best outing, de Marte made his 12th appearance on the mound. The right-hander struck out five of six batters he faced in his first two innings of work.
Richmond looked for opportunities break open the game and take a lead, but the ballgame would remain tied until the bottom of the ninth. SJU broke up de Marte's no-hit relief appearance with a leadoff single from Charlie Concannon. Behind a sac bunt and a walk-off RBI single, the Hawks took a 2-1 victory.
Game 2: Saint Joseph's 1, Richmond 0
The second game of Sunday's twinbill was much like the first, but as the game waned on it was all about who would cross the dish.
The Spiders looked to break through in the fifth after Justin Cook got things started with a single up the middle. With two outs in the innings, RJ Watters ripped a single to center before D.J. Lee drew a walk to load the bases. However, the Hawks retired the side and kept the game scoreless.
Looney went six innings, allowing just two hits and struck out five.
It took until the seventh for a team to break up the zeros on the scoreboard. A solo homer from Saint Joseph's Peter Sitaras gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Richmond looked for some late inning magic when Vinny Capra hit a single off single. The shortstop advanced to third thanks to a groundout and sacrifice fly, but he was left stranded leaving the Spiders with one more opportunity.
In relief, Aaron Winkler kept the Hawks at bay as he struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth, sending the Spiders back to the plate to spark a rally. The rally would fall short as Saint Joseph's secured their 1-0 victory.
ON DECK:
Richmond will have the week off before returning to the diamond on Friday to begin a three-game Atlantic 10 series with George Mason at Pitt Field. Friday's game is scheduled for a 3PM first pitch.
