March 24, 2009

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - After taking two of three from Massachusetts this weekend to open A-10 play, the Richmond baseball team returns to action Tuesday night with a 5 p.m. game at VMI. The Spiders, which beat the Keydets 10-4 on Feb. 25, are looking to sweep the season series.

TUESDAY'S LIVE LINKS: Stats | Audio

SHORT HOPS
• Richmond stands at 11-5 overall, 2-1 in the A-10, and opened the season with a seven-game winning streak. But since a rare Spring snow storm that dumped seven-inches of snow on Richmond and cancelled a week's worth of games, the Spiders have been just 4-5.

• In the seven wins before the snow, the Spiders were batting .335 as a team, outscoring the opposition 92-31 and owned a team ERA of 3.69. But since the white stuff melted, Richmond's average has slipped to .295, the team is being out-scored 100-68 and the ERA has jumped to 7.38.

• In the first two games of the UMass series -- which both deep into extra innings -- the team's combined to play 27 innings and throw 956 pitches. But the Richmond bullpen was dazzling in each extra-inning win, working 16.2 innings and allowing just 10 hits, three runs, two walks and fanning 14 Minutemen.

• Senior Josh Horn led the way for Richmond out of the pen, working 2.1 scoreless innings Friday and three more Saturday. He allowed just two hits, one walk and six Ks in the series. Horn is 3-1 with a 3.93 and 19 Ks against four walks in 18.1 innings.

• Of Richmond's 25 runs in the UMass series, 16 were scored with two outs.

• The Spiders were six-of-seven in steal attempts in the UMass series and for the season, have swiped 41 bag in 52 attempts. Richmond stole just 51 bases all last season and is on pace to shatter the team's single-season record of 116 steals (2003). Freshman Adam McConnell's 11 thefts in 14 attempts leads the club.

• Junior 3B Cameron Brown swatted a pair of homers in Saturday's win and continues to lead the team in hitting (.433), runs (24) and homers (four).

• Junior Brian Farrell gets the start for the Spiders and the southpaw is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts this season.