Ryan Metzroth was two-for-four with two RBI and a run scored.

May 8, 2008

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Richmond baseball team let a 5-0 lead slip away and fell to Charlotte, 8-7, Thursday night in the first of a three-game Atlantic 10 series at Hayes Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The Spiders yielded a pair of unearned runs in the decisive seventh inning to cap a furious rally for the league-leading 49ers. Mike Mergenthaler and Ryan Metzroth each had two hits and two RBI for the Spiders.

The loss dropped Richmond to 19-26-2 overall and 9-12-1 in the A-10, while Charlotte moved into sole possession of first place at 35-13, 15-7.

With the Spiders leading 7-6 in the seventh, the 49ers had runners at first and second with one out. Cory Shaylor and Aaron Bray broke on a double steal and catcher Evan Stehle's throw to third sailed into left field, where Hank Coogan slipped attempting to field the over-throw. Both runners scored on the play, giving Charlotte its first lead of the game.

Reliever Kelly McLain held Richmond scoreless over his final three hitless innings to pick up the victory (5-0), while reliever Josh Horn was tagged the tough-luck loss (2-3).

The Spiders attacked early with seven hits in the first three innings, but had just a 1-0 lead to show for it after stranding eight runners on base. That run came in the first thanks to Metzroth's RBI single after Stehle doubled off starter Joe Yermel to left field.

With starter Matt Zielinski rolling for the Spiders and Yermel's pitch-count rising, freshman Andrew Lowry's RBI single - Richmond's ninth hit to make the score 2-0 - ended Yermel's day. Coogan and Mergenthaler each had RBI doubles later in the frame as the Spiders poured on four runs and stretched the lead to 5-0.

Zielinski fanned the first two batters in the bottom of the inning on just five pitches, but his one-hit shutout fizzled from there, beginning with Rob Lyerly's solo homer to left field. Charlotte exploded for five on five hits and drew even for the first time.

But thanks to Metrzroth's second RBI - a single through the right side in the sixth - Zielinski was staked to the lead once again. The sophomore, who allowed an unearned run in the sixth to make the score 7-6, threw six innings and allowed six runs (five earned) with four strikeouts and two walks.

Richmond, which committed three errors, owned a 13-10 edge in hits and drew seven walks, but left 13 runners on base.

The series continues Friday night at 6 p.m. in Charlotte.