March 3, 2004

Box Score

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Jim Fasano blasted a three-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh to lead the University of Richmond baseball team to a 6-3 victory over the Virginia Military Institute Keydets at Pitt Field this afternoon. The Spiders' record improves to 6-2 with the win, while the Keydets fall to 9-6.

The Keydets jumped on the early 2-0 lead in the second, when Elliot Erbe reached base on a single to the left side of the field and crossed the plate off a throwing error by Spider shortstop Bobby LeNoir (Wilmington, Del.). John Goode rounded the bases on two errors, a stolen base and a balk.

The Spiders were able to respond in the bottom of the second, with a single from freshman Vince Riggi (Saratoga Springs, Fla.). He also put Richmond's first run on the board, off a single to center field from fellow freshman Anthony Sandstrom (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). The inning closed out with a score of 2-1.

VMI's Allan Wimmer gave the Keydets a 3-1 lead in the fifth when he homered over the left field wall. Richmond responded in the bottom of the inning with two outs. Sandstrom had reached base on balls, when LeNoir doubled to right field, allowing Sandstrom to score. Sophomore Ben Zeskind (Miami, Fla.) stroked a single to right field, scoring LeNoir and evening the contest at three after five innings.

Once again with two outs, in the bottom of the seventh LeNoir singled to center field and Zeskind walked, setting up for Fasano's (Horsham, Pa.) three-run homerun. The dinger marked the fourth of the season and the 14th RBI for the first baseman.

Freshman Matt Francavillo (Endwell, N.Y.) made his college debut this afternoon on the mound for Richmond. He faced 23 batters, struck out four and allowed four hits in his 4.2 innings of action for the Spiders. Senior Matt McLoughlin (Del Mar, Calif.) recorded his first win of the season and John Cronin (Branford, Conn.) posted his second save of the year.

The Spiders are back in action this weekend, March 6-7, when they host Quinnipiac. Saturday's game is a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. and Sunday's first pitch is schedule for 1 p.m.