Spider Sports Recap: Week of March 8

Men’s Baseball

March 8: Loss 2-10 vs Central Michigan

The baseball team dropped its first home game in a  non-conference matchup with Central Michigan 2-10. The Chippewas scored early and often as they opened up a 6-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. The Spiders responded with a pair of runs, only for CMU to add three more in the next half-inning. Graduate student outfielder Austin Masel finished 2-4 with an RBI, and redshirt junior outfielder Jordan Schulefand went 2-3 with a double and scored a run. Graduate student pitcher Matthew Plisko started on the mound and took the loss after giving up three runs in four innings.

March 9: Loss 0-7 at Virginia

In-state rival Virginia handled the Spiders Tuesday night in Charlottesville 0-7. The Cavaliers got after Richmond’s pitcher redshirt sophomore Collin Lowe in his first start scoring five runs in the first two innings. The Spider struggled to get anything going offensively managing only four hits. The strong UVA pitching rotation gave up only four singles all game.

Football

March 6: Win 38-14 vs Elon

The Spiders improved to 2-0 on the season with a 38-14 victory over CAA foe Elon Saturday in North Carolina. Richmond finished the game with 395 yards of total offense. Redshirt senior quarterback Joe Mancuso had two touchdowns and completed 17 of 26 for 189 yards. He added 60 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Richmond dominated time of possession and ran 80 plays compared to Elon’s 42. The game was never close, and the Spiders now look to this Saturday’s matchup with No. 1 ranked JMU.

Men’s Golf

March 8-9: 3rd of 13 (883,+19)

The men’s golf team finished 3rd out of 13 teams at the Ross Collegiate Classic. The event took place at Mid Pines Golf Club in North Carolina. The Spiders had the lowest combined score in the final round, and this was the best by the Spiders in an event with 10 or more teams since winning the Atlantic 10 Championship in April 2017. Junior Michael Childress posted the top score for the Spiders as he finished T7 with a 218 (+2). This was the first competition for the team in over a year.

Men’s Tennis

March 15: Win 5-2 vs Norfolk State

The men’s tennis team beat Norfolk State 5-2. The Spiders swept the doubles point and held on in singles winning four of the six matches to secure a 5-2 home win against Norfolk State Sunday at the Westhampton Tennis Courts. Freshman Daniel Kliebhan and junior Josh Keitelman won the last doubles match in a tiebreaker winning the final three points. Junior Alex Wernink and graduate student Matt Fernandez clinched the doubles point winning 6-2.  Matt Fernandez won No 1. singles in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

Women’s Tennis

March 14: Win 7-0 vs Norfolk State

The University of Richmond women's tennis team won all three doubles matches and didn't drop a set in a clean 7-0 sweep against Norfolk State Sunday at the Westhampton Tennis Courts.

Women’s Soccer

March 11: Loss 0-2 at Davidson

The women’s soccer team dropped its second game of the season at Davidson 0-2 Thursday night. The Spiders finished with four shots on goal all of which came in the second half. Davidson scored both goals late in the game to earn the victory. A matchup with VCU on Sunday, March 14, was postponed to a future date.

Women’s Lacrosse

March 14: Win 19-2 at Old Dominion

The women’s lacrosse team dominated ODU in a conference road game 19-2. Redshirt senior attack Sam Geiersbach scored her 150th career goal on her fourth of five goals in the contest. Ten Spiders got on the board including sophomore attack Arden Tierney who finished with three goals and three assists. The defense held ODU to 20 shots in the game, and graduate student goalie Megan Gianforte finished with seven saves.

Women’s Golf

March 8-9: 8th out of 13 289 (+1)

The Richmond women's golf team combined for a team score of 289 (+1) in the final round of the River Landing Classic on Tuesday, matching the second-lowest 18-hole score in program history. The Spiders were paced by a pair of 3-under rounds from freshman Rory Weinfurther and junior Emily Ward on Tuesday afternoon. Junior Naomi Mitchell also posted a 70 in the second round, the best of her career. 

Field Hockey

March 13: Loss 1-3 at VCU

The field hockey team opened the season with a loss to rival VCU 1-3 Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Evie Hanson opened the scoring for the Spiders, but the Rams answered with three straight goals. Richmond tallied four shots in the game compared to VCU’s 11.

Women’s Basketball

March 11: WIn 58-54 OT vs George Washington

The women’s basketball team won its opening game in the A-10 tournament with a 58-54 win over George Washington. The Spiders saw a double-digit lead disappear in the second half, and managed only two points in the fourth quarter. Junior Emma Squires scored an and one to take the lead in overtime with 38 seconds left, and the Spiders were able to hold on for the victory. Squires led the team with 18 points and eight rebounds.  

March 12: Loss 58-59 vs Saint Louis OT

Richmond lost a heartbreaker to Saint Louis 59-58 in the A-10 quarterfinals.  This marks the second straight season the Spiders have fallen in this round. Saint Louis outscored the Spiders 7-6 in overtime to seal the victory.  Richmond did not shoot the ball well throughout the game but stayed in the game with tough defense. Junior Kate Klimkiewicz led on offense with 19 points and seven rebounds.  She also had eight steals which is tied for third-most in school history for a single-game.  

Men’s Lacrosse

March 13: Win 23-6 at VMI

Richmond handled VMI 23-6 in its conference opener. The Spiders led the entire game and showed it is the team to beat in the conference this year. 23 goals is the most goals the program has ever scored in a single-game. Sophomore Dalton Young broke the school record for goals in a game with seven, and he scored all of them in the first half. Junior Jacob Griffin won a program-record 22 faceoffs finishing 22-26 at the faceoff X. Twelve different players scored for Richmond and the team improved to 30-5 all-time in conference play.

Contact sports writer T Ridgway at t.ridgway@richmond.edu.