No. 12 Richmond Scatters Two Hits Over Nine Innings to Down Radford 3-2

RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond held Radford University to two hits to down the Highlanders 3-2 in non-conference baseball action Tuesday afternoon at Pitt Field on the campus of the University of Richmond.

Justin Morgan making his first career start for Radford (4-7) impressed tossing 4.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits. Nathan Stark tossed 0.2 innings walking three to earn his first loss of 2003. Jason Bolinski allowed one hits over four innings of relief to improve to 2-0 for Richmond (14-2).

David Thomas led the Richmond offense with two hits, as RU was able to hold the Spiders to only five hits in the game. RU itself only managed to muster a pair of singles by Stuart Ritchie and Ryan Wetzel.

The Highlanders pushed a run across in the second, courtesy of a pair of Richmond errors. Shawn House, who reached on an error by Richmond third baseman Ben Zestkind, came across courtesy of a sacrifice fly to left by Matt Mantione. The Spiders countered with a run in the bottom of the frame. A.J. Board drew a one-out walk and would come around to score on Michael Galligan’s double.

RU would again take a one run lead in the top of the third. Stuart Ritchie singled to leadoff the inning, advancing to third with a stolen base and an error by the catcher. Alan Ashworth’s sac fly to left delivered Ritchie from third to give RU a 2-1 lead. Richmond responded once again in the bottom of the fourth. A two-out walk and stolen base by Galligan, set up a double by Chris Dolan to knot the game at 2-2.

Richmond took their first lead two innings later, in the sixth. Galliagan figured in the mix again walking and swiping his third base of the afternoon putting him on second with no outs. That would spell the end of the afternoon for RU reliever Nathan Stark as he gave way for Rob Bursey.

Bursey retired the next two Spider batters by way of strike out and fly out. A ground ball to short by Bobby LeNoir look as if the highlanders would get out of the inning unscathed, but the ball would take a Spider bound over the glove of Ritchie at short allowing Galligan to score from second and give Richmond a 3-2 lead.

The Highlanders look to bounce back tomorrow, when they travel cross-town to face host VCU at 4 p.m.