Feb. 27, 2005

Box Score

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond baseball team was shutout for the first time since May 1, 2004, Sunday, dropping the rubber game of its three-game series with Delaware, 7-0. The Spiders, who fell to 3-4 on the season, recorded just five hits and did not move a runner past second the entire game. The Blue Hens, who stole eight bases, the most since Virginia Tech stole five against Richmond May 5, 2004, improved to 2-4 on the season.

Delaware got on the board in the third when Ryan Graham doubled to right field with one out. After moving into scoring position on a passed ball, he scored on a Brandon Menchaca groundout.

After a strikeout in the top of the fourth, Delaware's Brock Donovan reached on an error and then advanced to second on the ensuing single from Dave Harden. Both runners then came around to score on a single to leftfield from Bryan Valichka to make the score 3-0.

The Blue Hens went on to score one more run off Richmond's starter, sophomore Rob Berzinskas (0-1). The Clinton, Conn., native surrendered a total of four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks. A bright spot for the righthander was his career-high eight strikeouts in five innings.

Freshman Stephen Owens replaced Berzinskas in the sixth. He retired the first hitter he faced then gave up a double to left center. A walk and stolen base moved runners to second and third with one out, which allowed Graham to garner another RBI, this time grounding out to third forcing the run home.

Owens was able to shut the Blue Hens out in the seventh, leaving the score at 5-0 with three to play. Junior Tim Rice came on in the eighth and gave up two more runs on four walks while striking out one.

Richmond's sophomore Anthony Sandstrom (2-for-3) was the only Spider hitter with multiple hits in the game. Sophomore Vince Riggi was inserted as a pinch hitter in the ninth and recorded Richmond's first pinch hitter hit of the season.

The Spiders are slated to host in-state rival Virginia, Tuesday, March 1 at Pitt Field. First pitch against the Cavaliers is set for 2:30 p.m.

Game Notes
- Sophomore Rob Berzinskas struck out a career-high eight in the loss.
- Junior Ben Zeskind (0-for-4) snapped a 12-game hit streak dating back to 2004.
- Sophomore Vince Riggi garnered the Spiders' first pinch hitter hit with a single in the ninth.
- Delaware's eight stolen bases are the most recorded by a Richmond opponent since Virginia Tech swiped five against the Spiders May 5, 2004.
- The Spiders turned a double play for the first time this season. The twin-killing happened in the top of the second inning.
- The last time Richmond failed to score a run was May 1, 2004 at Xavier (0-4). The shutout also marked the first time since April 21, 2004 Richmond has been blanked at home (Old Dominion, 0-7).
- Richmond is now 16-8 all-time against Delaware.
- Head coach Ron Atkins is now 11-6 in his career against the Blue Hens.