West Virginia Drops Central Virginia Classic Finale to Richmond

Richmond, VA - The West Virginia Mountaineers (6-4) fell to Richmond 7-3 in the third and final game of the Central Virginia Classic following a five run sixth inning from the Spiders (4-6).

Dayne Leonard delivered a home run in the top of the first and Caleb McNeeley followed with a solo shot in the second to give the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead through two innings.

Johnny Hipsman cut the deficit in half with a leadoff homerun in the bottom of the second.

Hipsman hit a leadoff single in the fourth and advanced to second on a one-out fielder's choice from Zach Lass before Chase Conklin ripped a single to left-centerfield, scoring Lass and tying the game at two.

West Virginia starting pitcher Grant Siegel went four innings. The sophomore allowed five hits and two hits while striking out three.

Freshman Robby Porco took the hill in the fifth and faced the minimum. However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Porco gave up consecutive singles, then walked the bases loaded before giving up an RBI single to Zach Lass to give the Spiders their first lead of the afternoon. WVU head coach Randy Mazey signaled out to his bullpen for junior right-hander Carlson Reed.

Reed recorded the first out of the inning with a strikeout, but former Mountaineer Mikey Kluska singled through the right side, adding another Richmond run. Reed responded with another strikeout. Then, Alden Mathes powered a three-RBI double to complete a six-run fifth inning as the Spiders grabbed a commanding 7-2 lead.

West Virginia cut the deficit to four following McNeeley's second solo home run of the day.

West Virginia loaded the bases in the ninth with one-out, but Spiders' reliever Alden Mathes came out of the frame unscathed as Richmond stuns the Mountaineers 7-3.

Up next, West Virginia takes on the Canisius Golden Griffens the Mountaineers' home-opener Wednesday evening with the first pitch set for 3:00 p.m.

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