Baseball Drops Third-Straight On The Weekend At Rhode Island

Sunday, April 7

Kingston, RI

Noon

University of Richmond

16-12-1, 3-3

Rhode Island

14-14, 7-2

Richmond

Rhode Island

Baseball Drops Third-Straight On The Weekend At Rhode Island

04/07/2019 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

KINGSTON, R.I. – The University of Richmond baseball team suffered its first series sweep in Atlantic 10 Conference play this season as the Spiders dropped a 6-3 contest to hosting Rhode Island Sunday. The loss drops the Spiders to 16-12-1 overall and 3-3 in league play while the Rams improve to 7-2 in conference action and back to .500 overall at 14-14.

Rhode Island jumped out of the gate quickly against right-hander Brendan McGuigan (Austin, Texas), scoring two runs in the first inning. The first four batters reached base scoring the Rams' first run while a bases loaded walk gave Rhode Island a 2-0 lead. McGuigan settled in and got a strikeout and a ground ball to strand the bases loaded and limit the damage.

The Spiders got on the board and took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the fourth inning. Richmond took advantage of a pair of URI errors in the inning to load the bases with two outs. Brian Schaub (Hatfield, Pa.) drew a bases loaded walk to score the Spiders' first run before Jordan Schulefand (Parkland, Fla.) ripped a double down the left field line, plating two for a one-run lead.

Rhode Island answered right back in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of a key Richmond error. The Rams put two aboard with two our but a Spiders' throwing error plated two unearned runs for the 4-3 URI lead. The Rams added two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-3 lead on two hits and a pair of free passes from McGuigan in his final inning of work.

The Spiders would threaten one last time in the top of the ninth inning as Schaub reached on a fielding error by the Rams and Schulefand was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved into scoring position on a balk, but Rhode Island reliever Tyler Brosius induced a shallow fly ball for the first out before striking out the final two batters on the day.

McGuigan (0-3) picked up the loss, allowing six runs in 5.0 innings of work, with four of the runs being earned. Freshman Garrett Aylor (Austin, Texas) gave the Spiders a chance for the comeback as he tossed 3.0 shutout innings in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

Rhode Island starter Dom Grillo working 4.0 innings and allowed three unearned runs on three hits. Reliever Cam LaFleur (1-3) was strong out of the bullpen, going 3.2 innings and holding the Spiders to just one hit without allowing a run. Brosius went the final 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn his third save of the year.

Richmond returns to action Tuesday evening as it travels to Lynchburg, Va., for a non-conference midweek game against Liberty. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.

-- UR --