After an error-riddled series against Oklahoma last weekend, the Seton Hall baseball team looks to tighten up defensively as the team travels to the University of Richmond for a three-game series.
The Pirates (1-2) took the opening-day game, but dropped the last two games of the series. In the finale, the Pirates lost 15-6 in a game that was called early because Seton Hall's flight time was quickly approaching.
In the second game, the Pirates' offense managed just two runs on six hits in support of junior pitcher Anthony Elia, who allowed three runs in over six innings of work. The Pirates fell 8-2.
In the opener, senior Josh Prevost allowed only one run on five hits in six innings while striking out five batters.
This was the team's first series loss since dropping two of three games to Notre Dame last March. Perhaps the determining factor in the series was the Pirates' 10 errors. The team committed a conference-low 48 errors in 56 games last season, which might be attributed to the snowy South Orange winter.
Head coach Rob Sheppard said the team needed to improve has actually been the team's strength over the last few years.
"We have to improve on our defense," he said. "That's something that we've had a lot of success with the last few years. Our defense and our pitching have been really solid, and that's really contributed to our success."
Prevost, who was named the Big East Pitcher of the Week for his performance in Friday's season opener, said that the Pirates are not pleased with their performance against the Sooners, but can't over think their mistakes.
"We just have to keep working hard and practice and fix the things we messed up," he said.
"We should be fine."
The Pirates' pitching staff may be able to find success this weekend as the Richmond Spiders (0-3) have a team batting average of .177 through three games.
The Spiders' leading hitter, Doug Kraeger, has a batting average of .500 through three games to go along with one home run and two RBIs.
Tyler Beckwith drove in four runs in the Spiders' opening tournament, but has two hits in 12 at bats.
Sheppard said that although the Spiders have struggled out of the gate, it is impossible to judge a team based on three games.
"This early on, you don't know much about a team," he said. "I think one weekend is really difficult to characterize a team. It'll be a challenge playing Richmond at their home place."
Richmond right hander Jonathan de Marte, who allowed three runs on six hits in five innings in the Spiders' opener, is the probable starter for the series opener.
Game time is set for 3 p.m.
T.J. Brennan can be reached at brennatb@shu.edu.
