University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Cleveland St
Richmond Baseball Completes Sweep
03/02/2002 | Baseball
March 2, 2002
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - University of Richmond recorded their first series sweep of the 2002 season, posting two victories over the Cleveland State (0-6) Vikings today at Pitt Field. With the duet of wins, the Spiders improve to 8-0 on the season. It is the best start for the team since 1947 (10-0).
In game one, Richmond needed the bottom frame of the seventh to ink out the 4-3 win. Richmond sophomore Adam Tidball's (Bethesda, Md.) RBI knock up the middle proved to be the game-winner.
The Spiders struck in the bottom of the first with a combination of walks and Cleveland State miscues. Leadoff hitter Adam Tidball's reached safely after a throwing error by Chris Truex, which allowed Reaver to score. The Spiders were able to only score one run in the inning.
UR extended its lead in the third when Craig tripled to right off Cleveland St. starter David Boyza followed by a Tidball RBI double. Tidball advanced to third on an error by shortstop Ben Smith on Bryan Pritz's (Wilmette, Ill.) ground ball.
Richmond starter, Mike McGirr (Lexington, Mass.) notched his second win of the season for the Spiders. McGirr held the Vikings to three hits over seven innings with only two Cleveland State runs earned. The Vikings only serious threat came off of a Dominic Erney two-run homer in the top of the fourth. The Vikings sent one more run plate-ward to knot the game at three. The threat was ended with a textbook relay from right field by Vito Chiaravalloti (Middleton, N.J.) to second baseman Bobby Lenoir (Wilmington, Del.) who threw a strike to Tidball, nailing Michael Ochwat at the plate. This proved to be a key defensive play for the Spiders who were unable to break the tie for the next three innings.
The bottom of the seventh proved to be the lucky frame for the Spiders. Chiaravolloti led off the inning with a single and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Harry Wilson (Richmond, Va.) who advanced to second on relief pitcher Eric Zizelman's balk and later scored on Tidball's rocket back through the box. Tidball's walk-off hit gave the Spiders their eighth consecutive win in as many tries.
In game two of the double-dip, the Vikings grabbed the early advantage plating two in the top of the first. A full count walk to Michael Ochwat with one out would come back to haunt UR pitcher Jason Bolinski (Hockessin, Del.). Two batters later, clean-up hitter Ernest Simpson ripped a double and plated the game's first run. Simpson would advance to third on a wild pitch and he score on a Brian Beaumier roller up the middle to give the visitors an early 2-0 lead.
Richmond countered with one in the bottom half of the first, a Vito Chiaravaloti homer down the left side. The Spiders were just getting started however, engineering 13 runs in the next three innings combined.
Trailing 2-1 and with one out, junior David Reaver singled to right field to get the offense ignited. He would advance to third after sophomore Matt Craig double, his second in successive bats, would bring home Pritz. Finomore was replaced by Matt Kaltenbach who managed to escape the inning.
As Bolinski retired the side with a putout and two fly outs in the third, Richmond's offense engineered another spurt in its half. LeNoir crushed a shot into left field, his first home run of the season. For the Vikings, the wheels began to come off quickly. Cronin followed with a single, a bunt. He advanced to second on a wild pitch while Pritz, the next batter drew a walk and both moved up a base due to a balk. With runners on second and third, Chiaravaloti grounded out to second, earning a sacrifice as Cronin scored. Pritz would follow shortly, scoring on a wild pitch. Craig would next single up the middle, his third hit of the afternoon, and would advance to third after a wild pitch and a passed ball. He scored off a Jim Fasano (Horsham, Pa.) rip up the center. Richmond added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth, off of four hits and four Vikings errors. Bolinski went the distance for Richmond, picking up his second win of the season in 5.0 innings pitched. He gave up four hits and stuck out five.
Richmond hits the road for two intra-state battles this week, traveling to VMI on Tuesday, March 5 and to VCU on Wednesday, March 6.
