May 9, 2009

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - The Richmond baseball team allowed Fordham to strike for 12 unanswered runs as the Rams took Saturday's game 13-2 at Houlihan Park in the Bronx. Sophomore Mike Mergenthaler went two-for-three with a run and an RBI for the Spiders.

Richmond (20-22, 9-14) scored twice in the fourth inning to seize a brief 2-1 advantage, but the Rams (18-29, 12-11) struck six times in their half of the fourth and four more times in the fifth to ice away a pivotal A-10 series win.

The loss puts the Spiders in a must-win situation Sunday, needing to stay at least three games back of the sixth and final playoff spot. Sunday's first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

Fordham victimized Richmond with 15 hits - including a home run and two triples, while stealing six bases. Danny Leach had two hits, scored three runs and swiped four bags.

Junior Matt Zielinski was tagged the loss (1-4), while John Flanagan scattered four hits over five innings to get the victory (6-3). Daniel Munday fired one-hit ball over the final four innings to earn his second save.

Freshman Adam McConnell was one-for-three, but saw his streak of consecutive stolen bases without being caught end at 13. The freshman, who entered the weekend leading all NCAA rookies with 28 thefts, had not been gunned down since April 8 at North Carolina.

The Spiders were limited to just five hits, drew seven walks and left seven runners stranded.