UVa. backup transfers to Richmond

Head football coach Danny Rocco has announced redshirt-freshman quarterback Michael Strauss will transfer from the University of Virginia and has enrolled at the University of Richmond, effective with Monday’s start of the spring semester.

“We are very excited to announce the signing of transfer quarterback Michael Strauss out of Miami, Florida,” said Rocco.  “Michael was in a quarterback battle at the University of Virginia before deciding to transfer at the end of the semester.  This addition will offer us another option at the quarterback position heading into spring football. The competition will benefit all the quarterbacks in our program and I am excited to evaluate their progress.” Continue reading “UVa. backup transfers to Richmond” »

Scott resigns from job at UR

The University of Richmond has announced that head football coach Latrell Scott has resigned his position at the University of Richmond.  Offensive coordinator Wayne Lineburg has been named the interim head coach.

According to multiple media reports, Scott was charged with driving while intoxicated in Henrico County late Monday,

“Although the timing and circumstances are unfortunate, I am confident that Coach Lineburg, his staff, and the football student-athletes will have a successful 2011 season,” said UR athletics director Jim Miller.

Lineburg, 37, is entering his second year back on the Richmond staff after three seasons on the offensive staff at the University of Virginia. The Radford native was with the Spiders for three years from 2004-06 as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach under former head coach Dave Clawson.

UVa. women rout UR

The No. 10 Virginia women’s soccer team used a balanced scoring attack to down Richmond 6-0 on Sunday night at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers had five players score a goal and nine players record a point as they improved to 2-0-0 on the season.

First-year Danielle Colaprico (Freehold, N.J.) scored her first two career goals to lead Virginia, while Gloria Douglas (Fayetteville, N.C.) had a career-high three assists and Erica Hollenberg (Fairfax Station, Va.) had two assists.

“It was great to get this result tonight,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “Richmond is always a very dangerous and well organized team. Early on we weren’t sharp, but once we got the first goal we seemed to settle down. We were then able to find the seams and get some good looks. I just wish we could have made that adjustment sooner. Overall I was pleased. We got a lot of players some good minutes and helped establish some more roles.”

The Cavaliers took the lead in the 22nd minute as Douglas’ cross was knocked in by Molly Menchel (Alexandria, Va.) for the sophomore defender’s first career goal. Four minutes later Julia Roberts (Frederick, Md.) doubled the lead as she blasted a shot from the top of the area into the upper corner. Just over two minutes later Colaprico scored her first career goal off a through ball from Douglas to make the score 3-0. Virginia held that advantage at halftime.

Virginia extended the lead to 4-0 in the 49th minute as Kate Norbo (Roanoke, Va.) one-timed a shot from inside the box for her first goal of the season. Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.) notched her first goal of the season in the 63rd minute off an assist from Hollenberg. Colaprico closed out the scoring in the 88th minute, scoring again off an assist from Douglas.

Overall Virginia outshot Richmond 25-4, and had a 6-1 corner kick edge. Chantel Jones (Midlothian, Va.) made one save for the Cavaliers as she recorded her 34th career shutout, moving to within one of the ACC career record of 35 set by Aly Winget of North Carolina. Andrea Young made seven saves at the other end for the Spiders (0-1-1).

The Cavaliers continue their season-opening nine-game homestand on Friday as they host Liberty. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is 7 p.m.

St. Joe's wins slugfest with UR

Phil Ruzbarsky launched a grand slam home run in the sixth inning to give Richmond an 8-7 lead, but Saint Joseph’s answered right back with five runs and hung on for an 11-7 win Thursday in the opener of a three-game series at Campbell’s Field in Camden, N.J.

Ruzbarsky’s bomb – his third in as many games – over the right-field wall gave the Spiders their second lead of the day after the visitors struck for two in the top of the first inning. But Richmond was unable to hold the advantage and slipped to 25-24-2 overall, 12-10 in the A-10. Continue reading “St. Joe's wins slugfest with UR” »

UR rallies to take finale from Saint Louis

Richmond bombed four more home runs, including a game-winning three-run shot from senior RF Mike Mergenthaler in the eighth inning, as the Spiders pulled out a dramatic 10-8 win Sunday at Pitt Field to take the crucial weekend series from Saint Louis.

Phil Ruzbarsky, Chris Cowell and Bryan Conway also homered for Richmond, which answered with a four-run eighth inning after the Billikens pushed four across in the top half to take a brief 8-6 advantage. Continue reading “UR rallies to take finale from Saint Louis” »

Richmond upsets #25 Charlotte

Jacob Mayers homered in the third inning and Bret Williams scattered three hits with five strikeouts over seven shutout innings as Richmond took down No. 25 Charlotte, 3-0, Friday night at Hayes Stadium in Charlotte.

For Richmond, its marks the program’s first win over a Top 25 team since a 2007 win over No. 10 Wichita State as the Spiders improved to 23-19-2 overall and kept pace with the A-10 leaders at 10-6 in the league.

A-10 leading Charlotte (34-11, 13-6) was blanked at home for the first time since a 5-0 loss to No. 25 North Carolina last season, snapping a streak of 60-straight home games without being shutout. Continue reading “Richmond upsets #25 Charlotte” »

UR splits pair with Dayton

Mike Mergenthaler had three hits and drove in three runs, while Matt Trent fired the final 4.2 innings of stellar relief as Richmond won a see-saw battle at Dayton, 8-6, in the nightcap of a doubleheader Sunday. The Flyers won Sunday’s first game 15-5.

With the Sunday split, the Spiders moved to 19-15-2 overall and 6-3 in the Atlantic 10, while the Flyers sit at 20-17, 6-3.

The nightcap, which featured four ties and five lead changes, swung the Spiders direction for the final time in decisive sixth inning. With Dayton leading 5-4, Bret Williams launched a lead-off solo shot over the left-field wall for the tie and Mike Small followed later with a sacrifice fly that put the Spiders on top 6-5. Continue reading “UR splits pair with Dayton” »

Dayton takes opener from UR

Dayton rallied from a 6-1 deficit in the sixth inning, and capitalized on five errors to beat Richmond 10-6 Friday in the opener of an Atlantic 10 series at Time Warner Cable Stadium in Dayton. Bryan Conway homered and drove in three for the Spiders.

Richmond, which entered the series as the A-10′s third-best fielding team, tied a season-high with five miscues, including two in the decisive eighth inning, which opened the floodgates five unearned runs in the game. Continue reading “Dayton takes opener from UR” »

Defense prevails in 2011 Richmond Spring Game

The Richmond Football team brought its 2011 spring season to a close Saturday afternoon, hosting the annual Spring Game for the first time at Robins Stadium. The Defense prevailed, 54-26, using a modified scoring system.

Rising junior QB John Laub finished the afternoon 21-of-30 passing for 172 yards and a touchdown, while rising sophomore James McKinney carried 22 times for 59 yards. Rising sophomore WR Ben Edwards reeled in seven catches for 81 yards. Continue reading “Defense prevails in 2011 Richmond Spring Game” »

UR completes sweep of Bonnies

Junior Bryan Conway came through with the go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning as Richmond stormed back from a four-run deficit late in the game to beat St. Bonaventure, 8-7, Sunday at Pitt Field and sweep the three-game series.

The Spiders, who won Saturday’s contest on a walk-off single from senior Billy Barber, scored three times in the seventh inning and took the lead for good with three more in the eighth after falling behind 6-2. Continue reading “UR completes sweep of Bonnies” »

Richmond nips Bonnies

Billy Barber ripped a two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth as Richmond rallied from a run down and beat St. Bonaventure, 4-3, Saturday at Pitt Field. Barber’s single capped a wild afternoon that saw the Spiders take a no-hitter into the eighth inning and finish with a combined one-hitter.

Richmond entered the ninth trailing 3-2 and after Bona reliever Brad Steinbach retired the first two Spiders in the ninth, Matt Zink triggered the rally by drawing a walk. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored the tying thanks to Mike Mergenthaler’s single up the middle. Continue reading “Richmond nips Bonnies” »

Richmond splits doubleheader with Northeastern

Mike Mergenthaler homered and drove in two runs, while Daniel Clark fired four scoreless innings of relief, helping lift Richmond to a 6-4 win over Northeastern in the finale of a three-game series at Pitt Field Saturday. The Huskies won the first game of the twinbill, 3-1.

Although having their seven-game winning streak snapped in Saturday’s first game, the Spiders (12-11-2) rebounded in the nightcap and won their second-consecutive weekend series. Continue reading “Richmond splits doubleheader with Northeastern” »