May 10, 2009

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - The Richmond baseball team left five runners stranded on base in the game's final four innings and was defeated by Fordham, 5-4, Sunday at Houlihan Park in the Bronx to eliminate the Spiders from a postseason opportunity.

The Spiders (20-23, 9-15) rallied for a 3-3 tie with three runs in the fifth inning, but the Rams (19-29, 13-11) quickly regained their lead with a run in the fifth and tacked on a much needed insurance run in the seventh to ensure the weekend sweep.

Freshman Adam McConnell collected two of Richmond's five hits and drove in three runs, while classmate Zach Jung allowed four runs (three earned) with four strikeouts in six solid innings, but was dealt the tough-luck loss (1-1).

The second of three double plays turned by Fordham got the Rams out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with no damage, the Spiders abandoned two in scoring position in the seventh and the Rams turned their third inning-ending double play in the eighth.

Richmond threatened again in the ninth thanks to a pinch-hit single from freshman Phil Ruzbarsky and a walk to freshman pinch-hitter Ryan Mallory. McConnell's single drove home Ruzbarsky, but Mallory's pinch-runner Robby Massar was gunned down at second as he stumbled after taking the turn. A groundout by Cameron Brown for the final out silenced the comeback bid.

After loading the bases in the first inning, the Rams pushed two across thanks to a double-play ground ball and an RBI double from Nick Martinez. Brian Kownacki's RBI single gave starter Brando Casalicchio a 3-0 lead, which he held until the fifth.

That's when McConnell drove in two with a bases-loaded double and Brown followed with an RBI groundout to tie the game.

But Richmond's three-run fifth was answered immediately by Fordham when Jung walked Ryan McCrann to lead off the inning. He moved to second on a single, stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Bryan Conway.

Runs by the Spiders proved arbitrary this weekend as Fordham answered in its half of the inning with at least a run four of the five times Richmond scored.

Reliever Jordan Grangard got the win (2-1), while Chris Kaible dodged the Spiders' ninth-inning rally to earn his third save. Danny Leach tormented Richmond all weekend and was three-for-five Sunday with three runs and two more steals. He finished the weekend batting .500 (seven-for-14) with eight runs, four RBI and six steals.

Richmond continues on the road Tuesday night with its final non-conference game of the season (6 p.m., ESPN Radio 950) before wrapping up the regular season at La Salle, beginning Thursday.