Designated hitter junior Will Gersky hit a grand slam that lead the University of Richmond to a nine-run first inning and a 9-2 victory over Longwood University on April 5 at Pitt Field.
The victory snapped an eight-game losing streak by the Spiders.
Junior Jeremy Neff allowed four hits and two runs while striking out six in the first two innings. Sophomore Vincent Corso struck out six over the next four innings before the win was secured by graduate students Jack Buckley and Winston Allen.
"I am ecstatic about today's pitching performance," head coach Tracy Woodson said in a postgame interview. "One walk and no-hit batters — the staff had a great day on the mound."
After allowing a Longwood run on a double in the top of the first, the Spiders responded with a 48-minute offensive explosion.
UR’s first run came after graduate student Christian Beal, first-year Jake Elbeery and graduate student Dom Toso all reached base and senior Johnny Hipsman was walked, driving in a run.
Sophomore shortstop Jared Sprague-Lott struck out swinging before Gersky’s grand slam to left field, raising the score to 5-1 for the Spiders.
The Spiders continued the momentum when sophomore Chase Conklin reached second base on an error despite junior catcher Jason Neff getting out at second.
Longwood’s pitcher continued to walk first-year DJ Pacheco and Beal for the second time before he was taken off the mound.
Elbeery slammed a single to center field, bringing in two more runs when Conklin and Pacheco crossed home plate for a score of 7-1.
The luck did not stop there for the Spiders because Toso singled, allowing Beal to score. The bases were again loaded when Hipsman was walked — driving in a run from Elbeery.
The Spiders ended the inning shortly after with a flyout to left field.
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Longwood scored the last run of the game when a Longwood single brought another run across the plate.
The Spiders, now 13-12, are on the road again at 4 p.m. on April 8 to start a three-game series against St. Louis University.
Contact sports writer Lucia Helmers at lucia.helmers@richmond.edu.
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