Longwood Defeats Richmond 3-2; Lancers First-Ever Win Past Spiders

Senior John Farrell Earns First Win Of Season Against Spiders With 6.2 Innings On The Mound

March 4, 2008

RICHMOND, Va. -- Longwood University took a 3-2 baseball victory past the University of Richmond Tuesday at Lancer Stadium in Farmville; the Lancers’ first-ever win in nine overall games against the Spiders who were making their first-ever appearance in Farmville. The Lancers (3-3) were led by senior Nick von Gersdorff/Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (3-4, RBI) who collected three hits and an RBI, while the Spiders (3-6-1) were led by Ryan Metzroth (2-4) with two hits. Longwood will play again on Wednesday, March 5, at Norfolk State University in Norfolk beginning at 3 p.m..

Longwood spotted Richmond two unearned runs in the second inning before scoring two runs in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2. The Lancers pushed across the go-ahead and decisive run in the fifth inning and the pitching duo of senior John Farrell/Nantucket, Mass. (Nantucket) and sophomore Lance Harting/Ballston Spa, N.Y. (Balltson Spa) did the rest to secure the home triumph and first-ever win against the Spiders. Farrell (1-0) earned the mound win with the first 6.2 innings, scattering five hits and the two unearned runs with four strikeouts. Harting (1) picked-up the save with the final 2.1 scoreless innings, yielding just two hits with two strikeouts.

In the fourth, sophomore Casey Havers/Thorofare, N.J. (West Deptford) (1-2) reached on a two-out, pinch-hit single and advanced to second on a single by freshman Justin Morreim/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) (1-3), and scored on a single to center from von Gersdorff. Morreim crossed the plate on a single down the right-field line by freshman Marcus Powell/Manassas (Osbourn) (1-4, RBI). In the fifth, junior Robbie Bailey/Mechanicsville (Hanover) (1-4) walked to open the frame, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored the unearned game-winner with two outs on an error. Richmond scored its two unearned runs courtesy of three walks, a balk, and two errors.

Anthony Cafagna (0-1) took the pitching loss for Richmond with the first 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs with eight strikeouts. Josh Horn also pitched for the Spiders in relief, scattering three hits with two strikeouts over the final 3.0 innings.

Longwood and Richmond were playing for the second time in six days, the first two games between the two schools since 1991 as the Spiders now lead the all-time series 8-1.

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