Coming off a string of postponements and cancellations, the University of Richmond baseball team continued its first home games Saturday in a double-header against Niagara University.
After losing the first game, 11-10, off an 11th-inning home run, the Spiders made a statement in game two, winning, 10-1, for their first victory of the season.
"This win is huge," Richmond starting pitcher Jacob Mayers said. "It gets the ball rolling. That first game was tough. Going to extra innings is tough because you put so much effort into it and really focus, but this game was huge."
While homering twice in the first game, Mayers struggled as a pitcher early in the second game. He allowed a baserunner in each of the first three innings, but in the second inning, he was able to get out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam with only one run allowed.
"I was able to find my pitches," he said. "I had that one tough inning, but you just have to keep your composure and believe."
From that point, Mayers cruised and pitched five scoreless innings to win the game. Overall, he pitched eight innings, allowing one run with seven strikeouts.
"[Mayers] came in and did what we know he can do," Richmond manager Mark McQueen said. "He had four pitches working; he was mixing and staying ahead in the count. He kept the hitters off-balance and took the game over."
While Mayers' pitching performance was impressive, it was the Spiders' hitting that outmatched Niagara. In the first inning, the Spiders got a two-out single by catcher Chris Cowell that went off the glove of the Niagara second baseman. The hit created a rally that helped produced three runs in the inning.
"We came out and, right off the bat, took it to them," McQueen said. "If we play with a lead, there's a lot more things we can do offensively so I think it showed today."
The wind and mental mistakes continued to plague Niagara. In the second inning, what looked like a fly ball turned into a double for Richmond freshman left fielder Eric Flanagan. Flanagan scored a few plays later. In the fourth inning, Flanagan hit a home run and Niagara walked in an unearned run after a catcher's interference. At that point, the score was 7-1 and the Spiders were cruising to victory.
Richmond first baseman Bryan Conway finished the scoring with a three-run home run in the eighth inning.
Tomorrow at noon, the Spiders get a chance to build a winning streak in the rubber match against Niagara.
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Contact reporter Will Offit at will.offit@richmond.edu
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