May 24, 2012

2012 Baseball Game 4 SLU-UR

BRONX, N.Y.--Fifth-seeded Richmond hit a first-inning three-run homer to beat No. 1 Saint Louis in the first game of day two at the 2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Championship Thursday at Fordham's Houlihan Park.

The Spiders advance to face the winner between No. 2 Dayton and No. 6 Saint Joseph's, which will be played later Thursday. Saint Louis will play Friday afternoon in the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament against a to be determined opponent.

Starter Zak Sterling (7-1) pitched a complete game shutout for the Spiders, allowing four hits and five strikeouts. SLU starter Alex Alemann (7-2) took the loss for the Billikens, throwing 8.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.

The game start was delayed by 3:56 due to rain and thunderstorms that rolled into the stadium just after starting lineups were announced.

Following the delay, Richmond third baseman Adam McConnell doubled down the left field line. Designated hitter Jacob Mayers then walked and catcher Chris Cowell hit a home run to left field to drive in McConnell and Mayers and give UR a 3-0 lead.

Both teams played shut-down defense from there, keeping the score at 3-0 until Richmond scored three more runs in the top of the ninth.

Second baseman Adam Forrer was issued a bases-loaded walk that scored Mayers. A pop-up by first baseman Ryan Mallory then scored right fielder Phil Ruzbarsky and Cowell to give UR the final 6-0 tally.

Mayers and Cowell each led the Spiders with a 2-for-3 performance and Cowell had three RBI. Four different Billikens had one hit each.