University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Fordham
Baseball Holds Off Fordham, Sweeps Weekend Series
03/31/2002 | Baseball
March 31, 2002
Bronx, N.Y. - University of Richmond junior David Reaver went 3-5 with two runs scored and sophomore Matt Craig went 2-3 with three RBI and one run scored as the Spiders swept an Atlantic 10 series at Fordham with a 6-5 win.
The Spiders (24-2, 6-0 Atlantic 10) outhit the Rams 11-9 and received outstanding pitching for its ninth consecutive win. Richmond starter Tim Rice, making his first collegiate start, improved to 2-0 after throwing 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Sophomore Matt McLoughlin allowed two runs in 2.1 innings before giving way to freshman John Cronin who retired the final two batters and earned his team-high fourth save.
A Tim Short fly to right field found its way over the wall and gave the Rams a 1-0 lead after the first inning. The Spiders played station-to-station ball to take a 2-1 lead in the third. Bryan Pritz, who finished the game 2-3 with an RBI and run scored, walked and moved to third when Reaver bunted an infield single down the third base line. The centerfielder was running on the play. Craig followed with a rope up the middle that scored Pritz and Reaver.
Richmond added two more in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. After an out, second baseman Brian Ruscello stroked his second hit of the game, a double that snuck inside third base and down the left field line. He moved to third on a groundout and scored on a Cronin single up the middle. Cronin stole second and then scored on a Pritz single back up the middle.
Craig scored Richmond's fifth run when he walked, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and crossed the plate when Adam Tidball drove a sac fly to right. The Rams' (6-17-1, 1-5 Atlantic 10) Kurt Thomas belted a two-run shot over the right field wall to bring the home squad within two, 5-3, after five innings.
Reaver scored his second run of the game after a triple left him at third for a Craig single through the right side. Fordham earned that run back in its half of the seventh. Thomas singled and moved to second on a sacrifice. He scored on a Bobby Kingsbury single to right, but the center fielder was gunned down at second on a perfect throw from Cronin to Craig.
An exciting ninth saw the Rams close within one run before Cronin came out of right field and closed the game. The Branford, Conn. native induced two groundouts, including the game's final play when Craig gunned down Tim Boyle at first as the potential tying run crossed the plate.
Richmond returns to action when it hosts Old Dominion at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 1 at Pitt Field. The game can be heard live on WVNZ, AM-1320 and on the Internet at www.radiorichmond.com.
