Rallies Fall Short for Spider Baseball in Doubleheader Against Niagara

Saturday, February 17

Richmond, Va.

11:00 AM

University of Richmond

0-2

Niagara

2-0

Niagara

Richmond

Back of a baseball player in a blue helmet with a red seven on it.

Rallies Fall Short for Spider Baseball in Doubleheader Against Niagara

02/17/2024 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Niagara Saturday at Pitt Field. After taking an early lead in game one, UR lost 6-3 (7 innings), while a late rally in game two fell short for a 6-4 loss.

In game one, Jason Shockley tallied the first of his three hits on the day in the first with an RBI base hit, scoring Jordan from second. Phil Bernstein followed with a base hit to left pushing Jake Elbeery in 90 feet.

Niagara took the lead in the top of the second, tallying three runs on four hits off UR starter Brian Reinke. Reinke (0-1) took the loss, scattering seven hits over five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) with a career-high six strikeouts.

Richmond got two batters on in the bottom of the third and loaded the bases in the fifth but left them on. Jake Topolski led off the sixth with a double then scored on Connor Larson's base hit to right center to make it, 5-3, before Niagara got a double play to end the frame.

UR relievers Davis Wallon and Dane Armson gave up two runs on three hits and three walks in the sixth. Wallon also picked up his first collegiate strikeout Harrison Clifton tossed a scoreless seventh with a strikeout.

In the second game, the Spiders loaded the bases in the third. Bernstein collected another RBI base hit, sending the ball back through the infield to score Jordan Jaffe. Jake Topolski picked up Elbeery with a deep sacrifice fly to centerfield.

UR starter Logan Ymker worked around one run in the first on two hits and six walks with four strikeouts in four innings of work. The Purple Eagles tied the game in the fifth, scoring off reliever Chase Topolski. He allowed one run on one hit, with a walk and a strike out in an inning of work.

Matthew Anderson (0-1) took the loss, going two and a third of an inning, allowing two hits with a strikeout and a hit batter. Entering with the bases loaded in the eighth, Clifton faced two batters allowing runs to score on one hit. Dylan Siesky made his UR debut, allowing two runs before getting a ground out to end the frame. Siesky allowed a walk and got two outs, including a strikeout, before Ethan Sannes got the final out of the frame via a swing-and-a-miss in the ninth.

Joey Wilga led off the ninth with a hit-by-pitch and was followed by walks drawn by Jackson Kraemer and Jaffe to load the bases. Elbeery forced in the first run of the frame with a walk of his own, cutting the Purple Eagles lead in half, 6-3. Bernstein tallied a RBI sacrifice fly to score Kraemer, but Niagara got the ground out to stomp out Richmond's momentum.