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Richmond, VA - Richmond held off a late-charging Wagner team by an 8-6 count in the series opener of a three-game set at Pitt Field.

Trailing 8-4 in the top of the ninth inning, junior Ian Miller (Downingtown, PA / Bishop Shanahan) led off with a single up the middle while becoming the 47th member of the Seahawks' 100-hit club. After a strikeout, senior Jayson Keel (Starkville, MS / Starkville / Holmes CC) followed with a single of his own while forcing the Spiders to the bullpen.

Richmond closer Dylan Stoops entered and induced a pop-up for the second out, before walking junior Shaun Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Seneca / Burlington CC) to load the bases. Classmate Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth CC) followed with a two-run single that scored Miller and Keel while slicing the deficit to 8-6. A wild pitch then moved Smith and Flynn up to second-and-third. Unfortunately the pair was unable to advance any further as Stoops struck pinch hitter Trey Nicosia (Fr., State College, PA / State College Area) to quell the Wagner rally and end the game.

The Spiders improve to 7-2 with the victory while the Seahawks fall to 1-3 as the teams will resume their series tomorrow at 2:00 pm.

Wagner struck first in the top of the second inning. Sophomore Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) led off with a single, before Flynn drew the first of his two walks on the day. Smith then moved the pair over to second-and-third with a sacrifice bunt. Following a strikeout, senior Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) singled through the left side, plating Dini. However, Flynn was thrown out at the plate trying to score for the third out of the frame.

Richmond responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, only to see the Seahawks reclaim the lead with two runs of their own in the top of the third. Miller led off with a single, before graduate student Chase Gray (Toms River, NJ / Toms River South / Seton Hall) drew a walk. Miller would later score on an error and Gray on a wild pitch. However, the damage could have been greater as Wagner left two in scoring position.

As was the case in the previous frame, the Spiders responded with four runs in assuming a 6-3 advantage while chasing Wagner starter RHP Connor Smith (West Caldwell, NJ / James Caldwell) from the game.

Richmond would add to the lead with runs in the fourth and fifth innings in pushing its advantage out to 8-3.

The Seahawks began chipping away at the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Sophomore Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ / Somerville) led off with his second-straight double, before scoring on a Miller RBI single to make it an 8-4 game. The Green & White had an opportunity to further dent the deficit, but stranded a pair of runners in scoring position.

Wagner then scored two runs in its aforementioned ninth-inning rally, before dropping an 8-6 decision.

In defeat, the Seahawks out-hit the Spiders 11-9 while drawing seven walks.

Miller led the way going 3-for-5 with two runs, two stolen bases and a RBI while Dini and Keel each went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run. Mazurkiewicz rounded out the multi-hit performers, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run. Smith reached base safely three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBI.

Smith (0-1) was saddled with the loss, striking out four while yielding six runs, five earned, over 2.2 innings of work.

Richmond was paced by Matt Zink (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Nick Poulos (2-for-5, 2 runs) as RHP Jonathon De Marte (3-0) earned the win, striking out five over 5.0 innings of three-run ball. Stoops notched his second save thanks to recording the final two outs.

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Photography by Tim Cowie