2025 Baseball Season
- Thread starter MDspider8
- Start date
Add beating host NC State and beating BC at home.
Hopefully we'll turn it around soon. We only won 27 with postseason last year, and we have already won 21. We are not bad, but we are faltering.
Gameday (x2)! The Spiders (21-7, 4-5 A10) head north to take on Rhode Island (16-12, 6-3), and the series has been slightly modified, and we will play two games today, with the second game being available to stream on ESPN+. Here are the Richmond probable starters, per game notes; you will notice the change:
The Rams are a solid offensive team, slashing .307/.431/.506 on the season. They are third in the A10 in the A10 in home runs (38), and also possess some speed in the lineup, as they are super aggressive on the basepaths (1st in the A10 in triples with 15, and 4th in stolen bases with 62, albeit with a ~73% success rate). They have a couple of potent power bats in the lineup (Jack Hopko and DJ Perron each have 6 home runs and 36 RBIs) but the real name to watch in this lineup is Anthony DePino, Senior 3B. He was named A10 Co-Player of the week on March 5, but has also received some National recognition, being named fifth-best third baseman in Division I Baseball's midseason rankings last week, and was the top Mid-Major name. He is URI's career home runs leader, and earlier this season, he recorded a 14 game hitting streak. He is having his most impressive season this campaign, and his average is over .400 and has an OPS of 1.400. He can also steal some bags too, as he is 10-13 on the season in that regard.
The Rhode Island pitching staff has had an average season, though are pitching much better in conference play, with a staff ERA under 5.00 and a Batting average against of .236. One of the starters we should see this weekend is Trystan Levesque, a Grad Student LHP who has been with the team since 2021. After a season ending injury 2 starts in last year, he has followed up his 2023 campaign (100+ strikeout, 4.01 ERA) with an up and down in 2025. He was named A10 Co-Pitcher of the Week on 2/24 after his 10 innings of scoreless ball with 9 strikeouts against Oregon (in a 1-0 loss, brutal). He has had three starts of less than 5 IP and 4+ ER, but in his last two A10 starts against GW and UMass has pitched a combined 11 innings, with 2 ER, 8 hits, 5 BB and 9 Ks. The other two starters should be Junior Jeremy Urena and Freshman Jake Cullen. The latter has lowered his season ERA from 19.29 to 4.78 in his last five starts over 21.2 innings.
A series win would do wonders for a team desperate for a quick turnaround. I think you can get away with only taking 1 here on a road series, but then you put yourself in a position to need a sweep at home the following week against a weak UMass team.
- Friday, Noon ET: Esteban Rodriguez (24 IP, 1-1, 3.00 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 21 K/12 BB, .247 BAA)
- Friday, 3PM: Gerry Peacock (16 IP, 2-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 12 K/6 BB, .246 BAA)
- Sunday, Noon: TBD
The Rams are a solid offensive team, slashing .307/.431/.506 on the season. They are third in the A10 in the A10 in home runs (38), and also possess some speed in the lineup, as they are super aggressive on the basepaths (1st in the A10 in triples with 15, and 4th in stolen bases with 62, albeit with a ~73% success rate). They have a couple of potent power bats in the lineup (Jack Hopko and DJ Perron each have 6 home runs and 36 RBIs) but the real name to watch in this lineup is Anthony DePino, Senior 3B. He was named A10 Co-Player of the week on March 5, but has also received some National recognition, being named fifth-best third baseman in Division I Baseball's midseason rankings last week, and was the top Mid-Major name. He is URI's career home runs leader, and earlier this season, he recorded a 14 game hitting streak. He is having his most impressive season this campaign, and his average is over .400 and has an OPS of 1.400. He can also steal some bags too, as he is 10-13 on the season in that regard.
The Rhode Island pitching staff has had an average season, though are pitching much better in conference play, with a staff ERA under 5.00 and a Batting average against of .236. One of the starters we should see this weekend is Trystan Levesque, a Grad Student LHP who has been with the team since 2021. After a season ending injury 2 starts in last year, he has followed up his 2023 campaign (100+ strikeout, 4.01 ERA) with an up and down in 2025. He was named A10 Co-Pitcher of the Week on 2/24 after his 10 innings of scoreless ball with 9 strikeouts against Oregon (in a 1-0 loss, brutal). He has had three starts of less than 5 IP and 4+ ER, but in his last two A10 starts against GW and UMass has pitched a combined 11 innings, with 2 ER, 8 hits, 5 BB and 9 Ks. The other two starters should be Junior Jeremy Urena and Freshman Jake Cullen. The latter has lowered his season ERA from 19.29 to 4.78 in his last five starts over 21.2 innings.
A series win would do wonders for a team desperate for a quick turnaround. I think you can get away with only taking 1 here on a road series, but then you put yourself in a position to need a sweep at home the following week against a weak UMass team.
We absolutely need to get one win today. Hoping to see some urgency from the pitching staff.
M4: Ooof. E-Rod already out of the game and Bilka in after 2.2 Innings. 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 wild pitch, 5 earned runs on 67 pitches. Bilka got out of the 3rd inning with 2 runners on.
Unfortunately he has started the Bottom of the 4th inning with a double, wild pitch, and a walk. Runners on 1st and 3rd for the 2-3-4 hitters.
Update, E4: Strikeout, line out to first, fly out. Keeps the game 5-5 heading to the 5th.
Unfortunately he has started the Bottom of the 4th inning with a double, wild pitch, and a walk. Runners on 1st and 3rd for the 2-3-4 hitters.
Update, E4: Strikeout, line out to first, fly out. Keeps the game 5-5 heading to the 5th.
Bilka gets out of it and we're still tied at 5-5 through 4.
This is more of the same problemthough...we jumped out to a 5-1 lead through two innings and our pitching can't protect it at all. Our offense is gonna have to score double digit runs most games just to keep us in it. This is feeling a lot like the last few years.
This is more of the same problemthough...we jumped out to a 5-1 lead through two innings and our pitching can't protect it at all. Our offense is gonna have to score double digit runs most games just to keep us in it. This is feeling a lot like the last few years.
Spiders only need to use three pitchers after a vintage Bilka performance!
Pitching
Pitching
- E-Rod: 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BB, 2 Ks
- Bilka: 5.1 IP, 3H, 2 BB, 6 Ks
- Willets: 1 IP, 2 Ks
- O'Brien: 2-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI
- Wilga: 3-5, 2B
- Arcamone: 2-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI
It’s 16-1. Woof. Our pitching has gone from dominant to laughable in a matter of 2 weeks.
Gameday! The Spiders (22-9, 5-7 A10) will look to get some home cooking against UMass (9-17-1, 3-9). Here are the Richmond probable starters, per game notes:
Friday, 2PM ET: Esteban Rodriguez
Saturday, 1PM: Gerry Peacock
Sunday, Noon: TBD
UMass hitting is really nothing to write home about, and in conference play they are slashing .234/.379/.327. In non-conference play they showed some power (on the season they have 27 homers in 27 games), and are led the way by Jack Beverly, who on the season has 6 HRs and 22 RBIs. He has been slumping at the plate as of late, but has still managed to get on base via the walk (on the season has a .408 OBP). Another name to watch is Anthony Tirado, who also boasts an impressive .444 OBP on the season and has stolen 13 bases.
UMass comes in on a 7 game losing streak, and in that time have let up 12 runs / game. Two solid starting pitchers we can expect to see at some point this weekend are Robbie O' Connor and Callen Powers. O'Connor was named to the A10 All-Rookie Team last season (and picked up Pitcher of the Week and Rookie of the Week awards 1x each) after hurling a 4.72 ERA and .249 BAA. He has followed that up with a 5.50 ERA campaign, but has been even better as of late, and in his last two A10 starts, has pitched 13 innings, 6 hits and 3 earned runs. He is somewhat susceptible to the walk, and has 3+ in each of his last four starts. Powers has had a bit of a reverse trajectory to O'Connor in the 2025 season. After starting the year with a 3.86 ERA after his first three starts (15 innings), the Sophomore has since regressed to some of the pitching we saw in his Freshman year, and has a 6.00 ERA in A10 play (4 starts, 21 innings). Get to their bullpen and good things should happen.
I am not going to be a doomsday-er (unless we get swept...) but look, you really have to win this series if nothing else, for morale moving forward. As fun as it was to dream about getting an At Large to NCAAs earlier in the season, this season was always about finally breaking through in the A10 Tournament, and based on previous years' standings I think a 16-14 record achieves that. We are not even half way through conference play (we have two more A10 series this year), and if the Spiders can go 2-1 each weekend, we will end up with a 17-13 A10 record (and a ~3-5 seed). Even though UMass is likely our worst opponent the rest of the way, I won't get my hopes up on a sweep here. But go 1-0 today.
Friday, 2PM ET: Esteban Rodriguez
Saturday, 1PM: Gerry Peacock
Sunday, Noon: TBD
UMass hitting is really nothing to write home about, and in conference play they are slashing .234/.379/.327. In non-conference play they showed some power (on the season they have 27 homers in 27 games), and are led the way by Jack Beverly, who on the season has 6 HRs and 22 RBIs. He has been slumping at the plate as of late, but has still managed to get on base via the walk (on the season has a .408 OBP). Another name to watch is Anthony Tirado, who also boasts an impressive .444 OBP on the season and has stolen 13 bases.
UMass comes in on a 7 game losing streak, and in that time have let up 12 runs / game. Two solid starting pitchers we can expect to see at some point this weekend are Robbie O' Connor and Callen Powers. O'Connor was named to the A10 All-Rookie Team last season (and picked up Pitcher of the Week and Rookie of the Week awards 1x each) after hurling a 4.72 ERA and .249 BAA. He has followed that up with a 5.50 ERA campaign, but has been even better as of late, and in his last two A10 starts, has pitched 13 innings, 6 hits and 3 earned runs. He is somewhat susceptible to the walk, and has 3+ in each of his last four starts. Powers has had a bit of a reverse trajectory to O'Connor in the 2025 season. After starting the year with a 3.86 ERA after his first three starts (15 innings), the Sophomore has since regressed to some of the pitching we saw in his Freshman year, and has a 6.00 ERA in A10 play (4 starts, 21 innings). Get to their bullpen and good things should happen.
I am not going to be a doomsday-er (unless we get swept...) but look, you really have to win this series if nothing else, for morale moving forward. As fun as it was to dream about getting an At Large to NCAAs earlier in the season, this season was always about finally breaking through in the A10 Tournament, and based on previous years' standings I think a 16-14 record achieves that. We are not even half way through conference play (we have two more A10 series this year), and if the Spiders can go 2-1 each weekend, we will end up with a 17-13 A10 record (and a ~3-5 seed). Even though UMass is likely our worst opponent the rest of the way, I won't get my hopes up on a sweep here. But go 1-0 today.
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