Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Richmond
Richmond Ends Xavier's A-10 Win Streak
04.06.07 | Baseball
April 6, 2007
RICHMOND, Va. - Despite recording more hits than the home team, Xavier could not lead in the run column as Richmond ended the Musketeers' seven-game winning streak, 3-1. The Spiders also ended XU's six-game conference winning streak and more importantly a bid to have the best Atlantic 10 start in school history. XU outhit the Spiders 10-3 but could not overcome two costly errors and two wild pitches late in the game. The loss puts Xavier at 11-19 on the season and 6-1 in A-10 action, while Richmond improves to 18-12 overall and are now in a tie for first with the Musketeers at 6-1 in the conference.
Richmond struck first as senior Vince Riggi drew a leadoff walk to begin the bottom of the second. Classmate Alex Wotring singled to right in the next at-bat and allowed Riggi to take third, leaving runners at the corner with no outs. Fellow senior, Andrew Justice, then reached on a fielder's choice as he beat out the double play attempt to pick up the RBI and give UR the 1-0 lead.
The Musketeers responded with a run of their own in the sixth as senior Jordan Wolf led off the inning with a single to center. Drew Roberts put down the sacrifice bunt to move Wolf into scoring position before he advanced to third on a passed ball. Two batters later, junior Robbie Kelley singled to second to pick up his fifth RBI of the season and knot the score at 1-1.
But that would be all the runs for the visitors as a two-run eighth inning by Richmond would be all the home team needed to take the first game of the series.
Sophomore Steve Brown had a stellar day at the plate finishing 3-for-4, while classmate Adam Pasono broke out of his slump to end the day 2-for-5 at the dish. Wolf and Kelley also had two hits in the game and Matt Waskerwitz recorded the other one. Kelley would have the only extra base hit on the day for XU as the junior drilled a double down the left field line in the top of the second but nine runners left on base was the difference in the game.
Senior Bill Konecny gave the Musketeers another solid start on the mound. The reigning A-10 Pitcher of the Week allowed only one hit and one earned run in his 5.0 innings, while striking out one. Sophomore Brett Greenwell suffered his second loss of the season as he allowed the other two runs in his 2.2 innings pitched before giving way to David Hartman who moved his scoreless innings to 8.1 after recording the last out of the eighth inning.
The 2007 squad tied the best start in the A-10 by beginning 6-0 in conference play. It was the first time since 2002 that a team began the season unblemished in the conference. That same 2002 squad also lost its seventh conference game of the season but finished the season with a trip to the A-10 Championship.
The two teams will get back in action tomorrow afternoon with game two of the three-game set. Due to the weather forecast, tomorrow's game will be pushed back to 2:00 pm instead of the regularly scheduled 12:00 pm start time. XU will send sophomore lefty Charlie Leesman (1-2, 4.50 ERA) to the mound to face UR's Ian Marshall (3-1, 5.40 ERA) to try and knot the series at one game each.
