MOUNT ST. MARY'S vs. RICHMOND
Friday, February 26^th-Sunday, February 28^th
Richmond, Va. | Pitt Field
 
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EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 25, 2021) – After a season cut short in 2020, Mount St. Mary's baseball returns to the diamond this weekend with a four-game series against Richmond. The year kicks off with a Friday morning doubleheader, followed by single games on Saturday and Sunday.
 
ABOUT THE MOUNT
 
The Mountaineers are coming off a 2-10 record before the season ended prematurely. Earlier this month, Jeff Gergic took the reigns as interim head coach. Gergic is in his fourth season on the Mount's coaching staff, and had served as a head coach for Penn State Harrisburg in the mid-2000s.
 
Most of the starting lineup and rotation returned for this campaign, including Vaughn Parker II, who got another year of eligibility as a result of the shortened season. Speedster Myles Nicholson – already the school's leader in stolen bases – comes back as a fixture in the lineup. The dueling Thomas in catcher Thomas Bramley and first baseman Thomas Savastio also return.
 
12 of the 14 arms that pitched for the Mountaineers will again have chances to be on the bump in 2021. This list includes the school's top six leaders in ERA. Veteran hurlers Michael Yetter and Jordan Geber are back, as is reliever Ryan Florio. A host of sophomores who dipped their toes in collegiate waters once again have a chance to make their marks for the Mount.
 
Joining the veteran squad will be 15 newcomers – 10 true freshmen and five transfers.
 
ABOUT RICHMOND
 
Led by Tracy Woodson, the Spiders went 5-12 in a challenging start for the 2020 season. Among the list of teams challenging Richmond was #4 Georgia, James Madison and West Virginia.
 
Top hitters Alden Mathes and Drew Blakely are back for the Spiders, as well as pitchers Antonio Balducci and Collin Lowe. Mathes registered a .375 average across 13 games, and Balducci posted a 2.31 ERA in relief. RBI leader Dominic Toso remains in the lineup after driving in 17 runs a year ago.  
 
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
 
This is the second meeting between the Mountaineers and Spiders. Richmond took the contest, 12-0, back on May 4, 1988.
 
ON DECK
 
Mount St. Mary's debuts at home on Thursday, March 4^th when they welcome Bucknell to E.T. Straw Family Stadium.