Feb. 22, 2008

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The first game in the head-coaching career of Mark McQueen was a wild one. Richmond and UNC-Wilmington combined for 39 runs, 37 hits, 10 homers and the Spiders survived the back-for-forth battle, winning 23-16, Friday in the first game of the JU Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. Ryan Metzroth finished five-for-five with five runs and six RBI to lead the Spiders' attack.

Metzroth, a redshirt junior who missed all last season due to injury, hit the first two home runs of his career and also drew two walks to reach base seven times in the game. Hank Coogan and Evan Stehle each launched their first career grand slams, while Cameron Brown and Ryan Grant each hit solo shots.

Richmond (1-0) scored 23 runs on 21 hits with three errors, while UNCW (0-1) put 16 runs, 16 hits and three errors on the board. The game saw five ties and the lead changed hands five times.

"That was a war," said McQueen, who wins his first career game as a head coach. "It just seemed like every time we scored, they answered. With the wind blowing out to left as strong as it was, that was bound to happen."

Alex Hale - the last of three Spiders out of the bullpen - picked up the win as he pitched no-hit and no-run ball over the final 1.2 innings. He fanned two, including the game's final batter to clinch the victory. Matt Zielinski started and was roughed up for six earned runs on six hits in three innings.

With the game tied 16-16 heading to the top of the ninth, the Spiders loaded the bases with no outs and an error by the UNCW shortstop brought in the go-ahead runs. Stehle put the game out of reach for good with a grand slam later in the inning, after Metzroth drew a two-out walk to load the bases a second time.

The ninth inning marked the second time in the game the Spiders scored seven runs in an inning. Six of the game-deciding, ninth-inning runs were unearned as things unraveled defensively for the Seahawks, who finished last season ranked 66th-nationally in fielding percentage.

Brown was three-for-four at the plate, drew three walks and scored four runs. Joe White was three-for-five, while Grant, Stehle and Coogan each collected two hits apiece. The Spiders' one through five hitters of Austin Reilly, Coogan, Brown, Metzroth and Stehle amassed 18 RBI and scored 17 times.

"I was proud of our guys, we didn't lay down and kept the pressure on them all game," said McQueen. "Now we have to get ready for a Jacksonville team tomorrow that won their conference and played in an NCAA regional last year."

In the season-opener for both squads, the Spiders (0-1) used a seven-run fifth inning and a two-run sixth to pull away from their former conference rivals from the CAA a first time. Ten Spiders came to the plate in the fifth, which was highlighted by a Coogan grand slam, while Metzroth and Grant each hit solo shots in the sixth.

But UNCW came storming back in the bottom of sixth, denting the scoreboard with five runs thanks in part to a three run homer from Justin Barefoot to draw even once again at 13-13.

Brown led of the sixth inning for Richmond with a home run and Joe White ripped an RBI single to left-center to put the Spiders up 15-13. UNCW pulled back within a run in the bottom of the inning on a solo shot from Jason Appel, but Metzroth's single through the right side gave the Spiders that run back.

The Seahawks tied the game for the fifth time, when Barefoot scored on a sac fly to right and Appel raced home on the same after the Spiders bobbled the relay throw.

Larry Salefsky, was tagged with the loss for the Seahawks, who cycled through six pitchers on the afternoon. Richmond tagged starter Jeff Hatcher for 11 hits and seven earned runs in four innings.

Richmond continues action in the JU Invitational Saturday, playing the host Dolphins at 4 p.m. ET.