February 27, 2008

BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a disappointing 7-6 baseball decision in 10 innings at the University of Richmond Wednesday at Pitt Field in Richmond. The Lancers (2-3) were led by senior Nick von Gersdorff/ Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (2-4, 5 RBI) who hit a three-run home run and a two-run double, while the Spiders (2-3) pushed across the winning run with two outs in the 10th on a single by Hank Coogan (3-6, 2 RBI) for the come-from-behind home victory. Longwood and Richmond will play again next Tuesday, March 4, at Lancer Stadium in Farmville beginning at 2:30 p.m..

Longwood spotted Richmond the first run of the game in the third inning before scoring two runs in the fourth, one in the seventh, and three more runs in the eighth to lead 6-1. The Spiders, however, rallied with two runs in the eighth inning and three more runs in the ninth to tie it at 6-6 and force the extra inning.

In the fourth, von Gersdorff’s two-out, two-run double to right-center scored sophomore Phil Cerreto/Midlothian (Midlothian) (1-4) who had reached on a fielder’s choice and junior Paul Heidler II/Warrenton (Notre Dame Academy) (2-5) who had singled. In the seventh, junior Robbie Bailey/Mechanicsville (Hanover) (1-4, RBI) singled with one out to score freshman Marcus Powell/Manassas (Osbourn) (1-4) who had tripled. In the eighth, von Gersdorff hit a two-out, three-run homer to left field that plated sophomore Casey Havers/Thorofare, N.J. (West Deptford) (1-4) and Heidler who had each managed two-out singles.

Richmond received its clutch hit from Coogan who had three hits, including an RBI single in the third inning, while Austin Reilly (3-4) also collected three hits on the day. The Spiders began their comeback in the eighth by loading the bases with no outs on a hit batter and two walks, scoring the two runs on ground-ball outs. Evan Stehle (1-1, 2 RBI) had a key two-out, two-run single in the ninth that tied the contest through the regulation nine innings.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Jonathan Watson/Richmond (L.C. Bird) (0-1) took the mound loss with the final two-thirds of an inning, two hits and one earned run. Senior John Farrell/Nantucket, Mass. (Nantucket) had pitched the first 7.0 innings, scattering five hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.

Longwood and Richmond were playing for the first time since 1991 as the Spiders now lead the all-time series 8-0.