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No. 10 Richmond Squeaks Past VMI Baseball, 9-8

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Sophomore first baseman Jim Fasano blasted a deep right-center field homer in the bottom of the eighth to lead the Spiders 9-8 over VMI. Junior second baseman Bobby LeNoir solidified the win with a line drive catch in the ninth with Keydets on first and third. Richmond improves to 6-1, while VMI falls to 2-7.

The high scoring battle between the teams began in the first when LeNoir plated on a senior Michael Galligan fielder's choice.

VMI took the lead in top of the third on Brandon Massenburg's (Prince George, Va. / Prince George) two-run homer to left field.

In the bottom of the third, Richmond tied the Keydets on junior catcher Adam Tidball's single up the middle. Tidball drove in designated hitter senior Vito Chiaravalloti.

The Spiders and Keydets continued the seesaw, with Richmond and VMI tallying four runs in the fourth and fifth apiece.

VMI regained the advantage in the sixth inning on a single from Jon Wade (Marietta, Ga. / Harrison), bringing home Kelly Sweppenhiser (Herndon, Pa. / Line Mountain). The Keydets increased it to a two-run lead on a single from Elliott Erbe (Portsmouth, Va. / Western Branch), scoring Allan Wimmer (Vienna, Va. / James Madison).

Senior reliever Andy Givens (Bel Air, Md.) earned the win improving to 2-0. VMI's J.J. Hollenbeck (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) (0-2) took the loss.

"I'm really excited that the bats came alive today," said VMI head coach Tom Slater. "We played one of the top-ranked teams in the country and had a shot to win. We're playing great baseball. I believe that our tough schedule will prepare us for conference play. We'll bounce back from this."

The Keydeys will next play on Friday when they host the Davidson Wildcats. The opening pitch is set for 2 p.m.

Story courtesy of the Richmond Sports Information Department.
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