April 8, 2009

Box Score |  Photos 

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Richmond baseball team peeled off eight unanswered runs, but No. 2 North Carolina held off the Spiders' charge to win, 12-8, Wednesday night at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Freshmen Adam McConnell, Robby Massar and Phil Ruzbarsky combined for seven of the Spiders' 13 hits.

Richmond (13-13) triggered its rally by batting around in the sixth inning and scoring six times to slice the lead in half, while relievers Zach Jung, Kyle Leith and Alex Maffett each fired scoreless frames over the final three innings to keep the deficit manageable.

The Spiders came up empty after loading the bases with one out in the eighth inning; then pushed two more across in the ninth before the Tar Heels (26-7) iced it. Richmond left 11 runners on base in the game.

Ryan Metzroth launched a towering home run to left to lead off the final inning to cut the lead to 12-7, followed by consecutive singles from McConnell and Chris Cuppia. Two batters later, Victor Croglio's single to center drove in McConnell.

UNC reliever Greg Holt allowed five hits and a pair of runs in one inning of work, but weaseled out of further damage when Cuppia was gunned down at the plate trying to score from second on Massar's line-drive single to center.

McConnell finished the day three-for-five with an RBI and two runs, while Ruzbarsky, who had a two-RBI single in the sixth inning, was two-for-four with two RBI and a run. Croglio also drove in two runs for Richmond.

The Tar Heels' bottom of the order keyed its early-game offense, giving starter Jimmy Messer a 12-0 lead after five innings. UNC's five-, six- and seven-hole hitters combined for seven hits, eight RBI and five runs - led by the three hits and three RBI from Kyle Seager.

Messer earned his first win (1-0), while Richmond starter Billy Falasco allowed six runs and six hits in two innings and was tagged the loss (0-2). The Spiders used seven different pitchers in the contest.

Richmond returns to action this weekend to host Dayton in a key Atlantic 10 series at Pitt Field. Friday's 3 p.m. game opens an eight-game homestand for the Spiders.