March 6, 2006

Box Score

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond baseball put up a fight in the later innings Monday, but fell in the final game of the series with Yale, 7-5, at Pitt Field. The Spiders (3-8) fell behind 7-3 in the seventh, but battled back with two over the last two innings falling two runs short. Yale garnered its first win of the season and moved to 1-2. Richmond will be back at Pitt Field tomorrow with a 1 p.m. first pitch against visiting Virginia Tech.

Yale got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning by garnering a two-out two-run single from Jake Doyle. Richmond rallied in the bottom of the first with a run when freshman Cameron Brown was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Spiders later took their first lead of the game on a two-out double to rightfield from junior Benji Marshall. Sophomore Ryan Metzroth, who reached on a walk, and freshman Victor Croglio, who was hit by a pitch, both came around to score.

The Bulldogs did not hesitate to take back the lead by tallying three runs on three hits and an error in the fifth. Senior Derek Duclos, the Spiders' starter, gave up a leadoff single, before a double and two-run homer led to the three runs.

Yale added two more in the seventh off reliever sophomore Brian Alas, taking a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The Spiders did not go away, as Marshall and junior Alex Wotring led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Senior Ben Zeskind followed with a sac-fly to left to score Marshall from third before the next two hitters were retired.

Sophomore Joe Mahoney gave Richmond a spark in the ninth when he singled in Marshall with two outs. After a walk to Brown put runners at first and second, sophomore Alex Hale drove a ball to to the outfield, but the Bulldog leftfielder was under it to end the contest.

Senior Derek Duclos fell to 0-2 with the loss. The Exton, Pa., native allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings of work. He fanned four to post the 100th punchout of his career. Yale's starter Jon Hollis garnered the win by giving up three runs on five hits and three walks. Brett Rosenthal registered the save after retiring Hale for the last out of the game.

Richmond gets back at it Tuesday, March 7, when it hosts Virginia Tech at 1 p.m.

Game Notes:
-- Richmond stole six bases on the day, marking the first time the Spiders have swiped five or more bags in a single game since May 29, 2004 against St. Bonaventure.
-- All of the Spiders' hits came from the first four hitters in Richmond's lineup.
-- The Spiders used their 11th different batting order in their 11th game of the season.
-- Senior Derek Duclos fanned four in his start, pushing him to the 100-strikeout plateau for his career.
-- Sophomore Joe Mahoney tied a career-high with three hits on the day (3-for-5).
-- Junior Benji Marshall finished the day 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI.
-- Senior Ben Zeskind extended his hit streak to 10 games.
-- Sophomore Joe Mahoney and juniors Benji Marshall and Alex Wotring all extended hit streaks to four games.