Feb. 24, 2006

Box Score

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - With two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Richmond failed to score the game-tying run, and dropped its fourth-straight, 2-1, at the hands of the Delaware Blue Hens Friday, Feb. 24, at Pitt Field. Richmond, which has now lost two-consecutive one-run ballgames, drops to 0-4 on the season, while Delaware improves to 1-0 in 2006. Both teams will continue the three-game set at Pitt Field with a 1 p.m. first pitch Saturday, Feb. 25. Junior Rob Berzinskas is schedule throw for the Spiders, while Mitch Heckert will go for the Blue Hens.

Sophomore Joe Mahoney's solo homer in the fourth, his first and Richmond's first of the season, broke a scoreless tie. The homer also snapped a streak of eight scoreless innings for the Spiders dating back to the seventh inning against Nebraska, Feb. 19.

Sophomore Stephen Owens and Delaware's Mike McGuire were involved in a pitchers duel to that point. Owens finished his six-inning outing by giving up one run on seven hits and one walk while fanning six. McGuire left after four, giving up only the solo homerun and one other basehit, while striking out six.

Delaware tied the game in the sixth off Owens with an RBI-double from Dan Kozek. Brian Hagerich singled with one out then stole second to get into scoring position for Kozek's hit.

Delaware took its final lead of the game in the seventh off Richmond reliever senior Jason Bolinski. The Blue Hens garnered a leadoff walk from Ryan Engelhardt. Bolinski got the next hitter to dribble one back to the mound, but an errant throw by the hurler gave the Blue Hens runners at first and second with no outs. A flyout from Todd Davison sent Kyle Davis, a pinch-runner for Engelhardt, to third with one away. Bolinski struck out the next hitter, but an errant pickoff throw to first base by sophomore catcher Alex Hale allowed the go-ahead run to score from third.

Trailing 2-1, the Spiders were held without a baserunner by UD reliever Chad Kerfoot in the seventh and eighth. Senior Ben Zeskind began the ninth with a single to left then moved to second on an error by Kerfoot. With runners at first and second and no outs, junior Matt McKenna laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Kerfoot then got Hale to groundout and freshman Cameron Brown to flyout to strand the runners and end the game.

Kerfoot picked up the win by giving up two hits over five innings of relief. Bolinski suffered his second loss of the season after working three innings and allowing an unearned run on two hits and two walks.

The Spiders and Blue Hens continue the three-game set tomorrow at Pitt Field in Richmond, Va. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Game Notes:
-- Sophomore Joe Mahoney extended his hit streak to five games dating back to 2005.
-- Sophomore Joe Mahoney's homer in the fourth was his first of the season and Richmond's first of the season.
-- Sophomore Stephen Owens fanned a season-best six. He has yet to allow a homerun, throw a wild pitch or hit a batter this season.
-- Junior Vince Riggi made his first start of the season as the designated hitter.
-- Richmond has now lost two-straight to the Blue Hens.
-- The Spiders are 0-2 in one-run games this season, having lost both consecutively.
-- Richmond has used four different batting orders in its four games this season.