Baseball Defeats VMI Behind a Career Outing from Schulefand

Tuesday, March 23

Lexington, VA

6 PM

University of Richmond

7-4

VMI

5-12

Richmond

VMI

Photo by: Spiders Athletics

Baseball Defeats VMI Behind a Career Outing from Schulefand

03/23/2021 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond baseball saw an early lead erased due to some miscues in the bottom of the fourth inning Tuesday night at Gray-Minor Stadium, but rallied behind a balanced offense and superb relief pitching to secure the 8-4 win over VMI. Jordan Schulefand (Parkland, Fla.) threw a career-high 5.2 innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out three to earn the win. Schulefand retired 17-consecutive Keydets to hold VMI scoreless over the final five innings, allowing the Spiders to rally back. The Spiders improve to 7-4 on the season and drop the Keydets to 5-12.

The Spider offense connected for 10 hits in the victory from six starters. Chris Rinaldi (Westfield, N.J.) led the way with a 3-for-4 effort, driving in a run and scoring once. Anthony Forte (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) and Rich Ciufo (Medford, N.Y.) each had a pair of hits. Forte finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, a walk and a home run. Ciufo had a 2-for-2 game, laid down a sacrifice bunt, drew a walk, scored once and hit a double that tied the game in the sixth inning,

Drew Blakely (Galesburg, Mich.), Johnny Hipsman (Chester, N.Y.), and Jared Sprague-Lott (Philadelphia, Pa.) each added a hit in the contest. Blakely scored twice, Hipsman drove in two, and Sprague-Lott scored twice.

Matthew Plisko (Alpharetta, Ga.) started the game ono the hill. The graduate transfer threw 3.1 innings, allowing two hits, three runs and struck out six hitters. Schulefand came on in relief and never gave the ball up. His 5.2 innings of work are a career best as he utilized three strikeouts, seven groundouts and seven flyouts to retire the Keydets.

The Spiders wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Dan Leckie (Suffield, Conn.) got the inning started after reaching on a catcher's interference and advancing to second on a Blakely walk. Hipsman drove in Leckie when he stroked a double to the gap in left center. Blakely came in to score on a Rinaldi single up the middle.

Richmond added a run in the top of the second. Ciufo started a two-out rally as he lined a single to center just past the outstretched glove of the pitcher. After a wild pitch moved him into scoring position, Forte drove a single to right to bring him in and extend the lead to 3-0.

VMI took the lead in the fourth, scoring four. A lead-off double and a walk put a pair on before a strikeout got the first out. The next two Keydets showed patience, drawing two walks to load the bases and bring in the first run. After an error brought in a run and extended the inning, a double scored two more and VMI took the lead 4-3. With runners on second and third, Schulefand picked up one of his three strikeouts and Leckie made a diving play in left field to strand the runners and limit the damage.

The Spiders rallied back in the top of the sixth. Rinaldi started the rally with a one-out single and stole second. After a walk to Sprague-Lott, Ciufo hammered a double down the left field line to bring in Rinaldi and tie it up. Sprague-Lott came in on a wild pitch as the Spiders took a 5-4 advantage.

Richmond tacked on another run in the top of the seventh. Blakely poked a double to right field and moved up on a passed ball. Hipsman brought him in when he drove a fly ball to right that was caught, but deep enough to score the Spider catcher.

Forte doubled up the Spider lead as he left the yard for the first time this season. Sprague-Lott started the inning with a single to right before Forte homered and extended the lead to 8-4.

Richmond is back in action on Saturday as it hosts North Carolina Central in a doubleheader at Pitt Field beginning at 11 a.m.

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