JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Richmond junior Ryan Metzroth went 5-for-5 with two home runs and six runs batted in as Richmond scored seven runs in the top of the ninth to break a 16-all deadlock and outlast UNC Wilmington, 23-16, in college baseball action Friday in the first game of the JU Invitational at Sessions Stadium.

Both teams combined for 33 hits, including 10 home runs, as 13 players posted multi-hit outings in the season-opener for both teams.

UR collected 21 hits with junior Cameron Brown and senior Joe White adding three hits apiece.

Senior Alex Hale picked up the win for the Spiders while senior righthander Larry Salefsky was tagged with the loss coming out of the bullpen.

UNCW senior third baseman Nate Hall homered twice and drove in a career-best six runs to match Metzroths’ game-high total. Fellow seniors Daniel Hargrave and Jason Appel collected three hits apiece.

UR plated two runs in the top of the first, but UNCW answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run single by senior Mark Carver, who went 4-for-5 on the afternoon, and a sacrifice fly by Hall.

Metzroth connected on a two-run shot in the top of the third to give UR a 4-3 lead, but that lead would be short lived, when Hall slammed a three-run salvo to left in the bottom of the inning.

Richmond plated seven runs by sending 10 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth and taking an 11-6 lead. Senior Hank Coogan highlighted the outburst with a grand slam of UNCW sophomore reliever Jesse Haney.

Hall cut UNCW’s deficit to 11-8 with a two-run roundtripper to centerfield in the bottom of the inning.

Solo homers by Metzroth and Ryan Grant pushed UR’s lead to 13-8 in the sixth.

A five-run bottom of the inning drew the Seahawks even at 13-all. Hargrave drilled a 2-run shot early in the inning and senior Justin Barefoot tied the game with a 2-out, three-run shot later in the stanza.

The teams traded leads in the seventh and eighth innings before the Spiders scored seven in the ninth.

In the ninth, UR batted around for the second time on the afternoon and took advantage of three walks, a hit batter and a Seahawk error to score the deciding runs. Sophomore Evan Stehle capped the inning with a grand slam to center.

Richmond starter Matt Zielinski lasted three innings and allowed six runs on six hits and three walks. UNCW senior starter Jeff Hatcher didn’t fare well either, allowing seven runs on 11 hits, a career-high, and a walk in four innings.

The Seahawks return to action on Saturday with a noon start against Milwaukee. Sophomore Seth Frankoff will get the start for the Seahawks.

Notes: UNCW’s 23 runs allowed was one short of the school record of 24 in 1997 (Loss, UNC Greensboro, 24-10) ... UNCW used six pitchers on the afternoon ... UR now leads the all-time series, 37-22 ... The combined 10 home runs was a UNCW record for homers by both teams, previous record was nine at East Carolina (4/18/98) ... Another UNCW both teams record was set with 66 total bases, previous record was 63 against Maine at Chapel Hill Regional (6/3/06) Daniel Hargrave moved into a 5-way tie for 10th all-time at UNCW with 22 career home runs ... The side was retired in order just once (UNCW, 4th inning).