University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Cleveland St
Baseball Rolls Past Cleveland St.,. 7-0
03/01/2002 | Baseball
March 1, 2002
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond sophomore Tim Stauffer tossed his second complete game in as many outings while three different players belted home runs to lead the Spiders to a 7-0 win over Cleveland State at Pitt Field on Friday afternoon. Richmond (6-0) is off to its best start since 1947, a team that began the season 7-0. The Vikings fall to 0-4 on the year.
Stauffer (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), who improved to 3-0 on the season pitched no-hit ball through 4 2/3 innings of play. The right-hander scattered three hits and struck out five, forcing 14 groundouts. Sophomore Bryan Pritz (Wilmette, Ill.) carried the heavy stick, going 3-of-4 with two RBI and keeping his hit streak alive (6 games).
It appeared to be a pitchers' duel in the first few innings as neither team could advance to first. Stauffer and his defensive unit went three-up and three-down the first four innings of play. Vikings starter Jerry Long (0-3) was just as effective, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and recording six strikeouts in the first three innings. The one batter he failed to retire was Pritz who socked his first dinger of the season to right center in the second to give UR an early 1-0 lead.
Richmond threatened in the bottom half of the fifth, when Pritz singled with one out. He was successful in stealing second and third base however Chris Dolan would leave him stranded, striking out to pick up the second out. Sophomore Bobby LeNoir (Wilmington, Del.) and freshman John Cronin (Branford, Conn.) would draw a walks to load the bases. The rally would be halted when leadoff hitter David Reaver (Union Bridge, Md.) hit into a fielder's choice leaving three on base.
Richmond scored two insurance runs in the sixth to take a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Matt Craig (Dallas, Texas) drilled a 1-1 pitch to right center for his second home run and team-leading eighth RBI of the year. Sophomore Adam Tidball (Bethesda, Md.) knocked a double into left and was plated when Pritz picked up his third hit of the game.
The Spiders would erupt in the bottom frame of the seventh, scoring four. Lenoir led off, advancing on throwing error by third baseman Chris Truex. He moved to second on a ground out and scored when Vito Chiaravalloti (Middletown, N.J.) drove a double to the wall. Craig drew a walk and was quickly removed off the bases by freshman Jim Fasasno (Horsham, Pa.) who homered to center field to give Richmond a 7-0 advantage. Stauffer did the rest, facing just seven batters in the final two frames.
Game two of the series continues tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at Pitt Field. Game time was shifted due to inclement weather.
