Baseball Drops First A-10 Contest Despite Miller’s Pitching Gem

Friday, April 5

Kingston, RI

3 PM

University of Richmond

16-10-1, 3-1

Rhode Island

12-14, 5-2

Richmond

Rhode Island

Baseball Drops First A-10 Contest Despite Miller’s Pitching Gem

04/05/2019 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

KINGSTON, R.I. – The University of Richmond baseball team suffered its first Atlantic 10 Conference loss of the year and saw its five-game winning streak come to an end Friday afternoon, falling on a walk-off sacrifice fly 2-1 to hosting Rhode Island. The Rams improved to 5-2 in league play while the Spiders fall to 3-1 in conference play.

Redshirt sophomore right-hander Tim Miller (Wayne, Pa.) saw his dominant start foiled in the final inning, picking up a no decision. Miller was stellar on the afternoon, going 8.0 innings of four-hit ball, allowing just one run while striking out eight batters on 105 pitches. Rhode Island starter Ryan Twitchell was almost as strong in the pitchers' duel, going 7.0 innings of four-hit baseball, allowing one run while striking out five in the no decision too.

Rhode Island scored the game-winning run against the Spider bullpen as freshman Brian Craven (Hingham, Mass.) came on in relief and walked two batters surrounding a bloop single that loaded the bases without any outs. Senior Layne Looney (Dallas, Texas) came on in a tough spot and got a big strikeout for the first out. Looney got ahead of the next batter but Josh Brodeur lifted a sacrifice fly to center field and the winning run beat the Spiders' throw to end the contest.

Richmond's lone run came in the fifth inning as D.J. Lee (Frankfort, Ill.) drew a leadoff walk. After a single by Daniel Little (Nicholasville, Ky.) put runners on the corners, Brian Schaub (Hatfield, Pa.) lifted a sacrifice fly into center, scoring Lee and tying the game at 1-1.

The Spiders had a prime chance in the top of the eighth inning after Twitchell was pulled in favor of the Ram bullpen. Senior Sage Bruhl (Northbrook, Ill.) led off the inning with a double and after one out, moved to third on a single by Anthony Forte (Hoffman Estates, Ill.). Rhode Island reliever Tyler Brosius was able to get a big strikeout for the second out and a ground ball for the third out, stranding the runners on base and keeping the game tied at 1-1.

The Spiders will look to even the Atlantic 10 Conference series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Rhode Island with sophomore Kent Morrison (Herndon, Va.) getting the call for Richmond on the hill.

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