JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Richmond baseball team exploded for 10 runs in the second inning and senior Matt Zielinski was dominant in the season-opener as the Spiders rolled past Florida A&M, 23-1, Friday in the first game of the North Florida Classic. Zielinski fanned five and scattered just five hits over six innings to pick up the Spiders third-straight season-opening win under head coach Mark McQueen. The senior lefty allowed just one walk and a run in the winning effort.
"We threw strikes, only walked one and didn't commit an error," said McQueen. "I liked that we did the little things well and that's a credit to our guys. Even though we've practice outside only once with all the snow, we've worked hard and came ready to play today." Sophomore C Chris Cowell launched a three-run homer in the Spiders 10-run second inning and set a career-high with six RBI to lead an offensive attack that struck for 21 runs on 11 hits and benefited from 16 walks by Rattler pitching.
"The big second inning really gave us a chance to relax and allowed our guys to get in a zone," said McQueen. "We had good at-bats and I liked the approach." Junior DH Billy Barber had two hits, a solo homer, three RBI and scored four times, while sophomore LF Phil Ruzbarsky had two hits and scored a career-high three runs. After Barber led off the second inning with a single, Brown followed with a towering shot to left and Cowell later tomahawked a three-run homer over the left-center field wall. Richmond feasted on five walks in the frame and ended the day of FAMU starter Miguel Parga quickly.
North Florida Classic Schedule / Results
Friday, Feb. 19
Richmond 23, Florida A&M 1
BoxscoreOhio State 4, North Florida 2
BoxscoreSaturday, Feb. 20
Richmond 16, North Florida 11
BoxscoreOhio State 16, Florida A&M 1
BoxscoreSunday, Feb. 21
Richmond vs. Ohio State
11:00 a.m.
Florida A&M vs. North Florida
3:00 p.m.
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ATLANTA, Ga. - The Georgia State baseball team kicks off its much anticipated 2011 season with a three-game series against Southwestern Athletic Conference contender Texas Southern, beginning Friday at 4 p.m. at the Field at Panthersville. Game two with the Tigers will be Saturday at 1 p.m. The series wraps up Sunday with game three, also at 1 p.m.
