University of Richmond Athletics
Friday, March 25
Richmond, Va.
2:30 PM
University of Richmond
4
vs
7
Villanova
Photo by: Mike Tripp
Spiders Drop Series Opener to Villanova, 7-4
03/25/2022 | Baseball
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond baseball team had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, but were unable to stir up walk-off magic Friday at Pitt Field, falling 7-4 to Villanova.
Richmond and Villanova will return to Pitt Field for game two Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN-Plus.
Villanova (4-13-1) took a quick 2-0 lead in the first on three hits, including a solo home run, but Richmond starter Jeremy Neff (West Palm Beach, Fla.) settled and struck out the final two batters to get out of the inning. Neff didn't factor into the decision after going 6.2 innings, striking out a season-high nine, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks.
The Spiders (12-6) responded in the bottom of the first with back-to-back base hits to right from Christian Beal (Flossmoor, Ill.) and Alden Mathes (Broomall, Pa.). In the next at-bat, Dominic Toso (Philadelphia, Pa.) extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a three-run home run to give Richmond the lead, 3-2.
Beal finished the day with three hits. Mathes collected two hits, as did Andrew Papantonis (Lebanon Township, N.J.) and Johnny Hipsman (Chester, N.Y.).
The Wildcats tied the game in the top of the second at 3-all.
Toso took the lead back for the Spiders in the fourth on his second hit of the day, scoring D.J. Pacheco (Danvers, Mass.) from second.
Spider reliever Josh Willitts (Southampton, N.J.) took over for Neff in the seventh, working around walk to get the strikeout to get out of the jam. Willitts (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on two hits and four walks, while striking out two.
Rob Ready (Cape May, N.J.) threw 1.1 innings in relief, striking out one and walking one with two wild pitches.
Richmond and Villanova will return to Pitt Field for game two Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN-Plus.
Villanova (4-13-1) took a quick 2-0 lead in the first on three hits, including a solo home run, but Richmond starter Jeremy Neff (West Palm Beach, Fla.) settled and struck out the final two batters to get out of the inning. Neff didn't factor into the decision after going 6.2 innings, striking out a season-high nine, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks.
The Spiders (12-6) responded in the bottom of the first with back-to-back base hits to right from Christian Beal (Flossmoor, Ill.) and Alden Mathes (Broomall, Pa.). In the next at-bat, Dominic Toso (Philadelphia, Pa.) extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a three-run home run to give Richmond the lead, 3-2.
Beal finished the day with three hits. Mathes collected two hits, as did Andrew Papantonis (Lebanon Township, N.J.) and Johnny Hipsman (Chester, N.Y.).
The Wildcats tied the game in the top of the second at 3-all.
Toso took the lead back for the Spiders in the fourth on his second hit of the day, scoring D.J. Pacheco (Danvers, Mass.) from second.
Spider reliever Josh Willitts (Southampton, N.J.) took over for Neff in the seventh, working around walk to get the strikeout to get out of the jam. Willitts (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on two hits and four walks, while striking out two.
Rob Ready (Cape May, N.J.) threw 1.1 innings in relief, striking out one and walking one with two wild pitches.
Players Mentioned
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