University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No Carolina St
Baseball Edges N.C. State, 4-3
02/16/2002 | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2002
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The University of Richmond baseball team used a three-run first inning and a strong pitching performance to hold on for a 4-3 win against North Carolina State at the 2002 Charleston Crab House Shootout in Charleston, S.C.
Despite being outhit 12-5, Richmond improved to 2-0 on the season behind a two-hit, two-RBI performance from freshman first baseman James Fasano (Horsham, Pa.). The rookie is hitting .375 (3-8) with four RBI and three runs scored in his first two collegiate games.
Richmond starter Mike McGirr (Lexington, Mass.) earned the win after throwing 6.0 innings and striking out six. The junior allowed just one run on seven hits. Freshmen Tim Rice (2.1 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs) and John Cronin (0.2 IP) came on in relief to secure the win. Cronin (Branford, Conn.) walked two but didn't allow a hit to earn his first save.
After McGirr retired the Wolfpack in the first, the offense engineered three runs on two hits. Sophomore Bryan Pritz (Wilmette, Ill.) reached on an error after a drag bunt down the left field line to begin the frame. Junior third baseman David Reaver (Union Bridge, Md.) followed with a walk and after a Vito Chiaravalloti (Middletown, N.J.) pop out, sophomore short stop Matt Craig (Dallas, Texas) loaded the bases with a walk. Fasano continued his hot start with a two-run single to right center. Sophomore catcher Adam Tidball (Bethesda, Md.) walked to load the bases for sophomore Chris Dolan (Holmdel, N.J.) who knocked in his first run of the season with a base hit through the left side.
Richmond led 3-0 until N.C. State got on the board in the third. Jeremy Dutton stroked a one-out double into left field and later scored on a Brian Wright single. The left fielder bounced his infield single down the left field line and just beat third baseman Reaver's throw following a bare-handed stab.
The Wolfpack loaded the bases in the fifth with one out. McGirr induced N.C. State's fifth-hole hitter, Matt Butler, into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat. In the bottom of the inning, Richmond regained a three-run lead (4-1) with back-to-back doubles from Fasano and Tidball. It was Tidball's fifth RBI and second double of the season.
The lead closed to 4-2 in the seventh when a David Hicks single plated Chad Orvella. The Spiders avoided another threat when reliever Rice, in his second inning of collegiate work, eliminated Dutton on a force play at second with the bases loaded in the eighth.
N.C. State mounted one last rally in the ninth. Brian Wright belted his second home run of the season to lead off the inning and bring the Wolfpack to within one, 4-3. Rice struck out the next batter before allowing a single to Matt Butler. Rice went 3-0 on N.C. State's next hitter before Cronin relieved him. Colt Morton earned the walk before Richmond got a force for the second out of the inning. After another walk to Adam Hargrave loaded the bases, Cronin fielded a sharp ground ball from Joe Gaetti and flipped it to Fasano for the final out.
North Carolina State was led by first baseman David Hicks who went 3-5 with an RBI. Wolfpack starter Michael Rogers (6.0 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned) suffered the loss in his first collegiate start.
Richmond plays its final game of the 2002 Charleston Crab House Shootout at 5 p.m. on February 17 against tournament host The Citadel at Riley Park in Charleston, S.C.
