Feb. 21, 2007

Box Score |  Photos 

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond's pitching staff put together its best outing of the season, sparked by freshman Matt Zielinski, but the Spider bats were only able to push one run across in a 2-1 loss to VMI on Wednesday.

The game was tied 1-1 in the top of the eighth inning, when VMI's Chad Rice hit a solo home run that would prove to be the difference.

Zielinski made his first career start, pitching six innings, allowing just two hits, one run and striking out five in his first career start.

"He pitched well, he made some good pitches," Richmond head coach Ron Atkins said. "He's just going to get better and better. I thought his breaking ball could have been a little tighter, but he pitched very well. We're pleased with his effort."

Zielinski left in the seventh inning with the Spiders trailing 1-0, but Richmond tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a RBI-double by junior Hank Coogan. Senior Matt McKenna led-off the bottom of the seventh with a triple and Coogan followed with a double down the left field line.

"We had about three opportunities to score in the game, but consequently we only scored once," Atkins said. "The bats just couldn't get it going."

Three Spider pitchers combined to hold the Keydets - who had taken two of three game from national power Florida - to six hits, two runs, while striking out nine and walking just three.

VMI's only run off Zielinski came in the sixth, when he hit lead-off batter Shane Geislinger with a pitch, Geislinger stole second and scored on a single up the middle by Thane Smith.

Richmond had five hits off VMI starter Michael Bowman, but only mustered one run and struck out eight times. Keydet relievers Ian Casher and Kevin Crum combined to pitch three no-hit innings of scoreless relief.

"We played pretty good defensively, we had great pitching, our offense just wasn't there," Atkins said. "You have to give their pitching credit, they kept us off balance."

The Spiders continue a four-game homestand with a 2:30 first pitch against Delaware on Friday. Richmond and Delaware will also play Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.