University of Richmond Athletics
Baseball Travels To N.C. State
03/07/2002 | Baseball
March 7, 2002
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The University of Richmond baseball progam is 10-0, equaling its best start in program history that was matched in 1947. The Spiders travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face the 12-3 Wolfpack in a three-game weekend series at Doak Field. Richmond defeated N.C. State 4-3 on Feb. 16 in Charleston, S.C. in the other meeting between the two schools this season.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, March 8 -- 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 9 -- 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 10 -- 1:30 p.m.
In the Dugout ... Junior Vito Chiaravalloti currently has a team-high eight-game hit streak ... His career long is nine games ... Sophomore Tim Stauffer has thrown three consecutive complete games and is 4-0 on the season ... Sophomores Bryan Pritz and Adam Tidball are tied for the team lead with three game-winning RBI ... Opponents are hitting .197 off the Spiders' pitching staff ... The 2002 season marks the first for Richmond baseball as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference ... The Spiders spent the previous 16 seasons as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association ... In addition to their conference slate, Richmond will play non-conference contests against teams from the Colonial (5), ACC (2), Big South (2), Southen (2), America East (1), Big East (1), Big 10 (1) and Horizon (1)
Not Since 1947 ... Richmond's 10-0 start equals its best start in program history ... The 1947 team also started 10-0 ... The Spiders best start with Coach Ron Atkins was 5-0 in 1995 ... The longest win streak during Atkins' tenure is 12 games, also reached in 1995.
An Amazing Streak ... The Richmond starting pitcher has thrown at least 5.0 innings in 62 consecutive games ... The last starter not to reach the fifth was Bobby Basham in the 2000 season opener (Feb. 9) ... Basham went 4.0 innings, allowed seven runs on six hits, in a 7-5 loss at The Citadel ... This season, the Spiders' starter has gone at least 6.0 innings in nine of the first 10 games.
Eye-Popping Numbers ... After 10 games this season, the Richmond pitching staff has compiled remarkable numbers ... In 84.0 innings pitched, the Spiders' post a 1.82 ERA ... They are holding opponents to a .197 batting average ... The staff has struck out 73 batters and walked just 25 (2.92:1 strikeout/walk ratio) ... The Spider starter has earned the win in all 10 contests.
Against the Wolfpack ... N.C. State leads the all-time series with Richmond 24-6, including a 15-3 advantage in Raleigh, N.C. ... Last spring, N.C. State won both games of a March 2 doubleheader ... The Spiders last win in Raleigh came on March 7, 2000 when they defeated the Wolfpack 5-1 ... Richmond defeated N.C. State in their only meeting so far this season, 4-3 on Feb. 16, at the Charleston Crab House Shootout, in Charleston S.C. ... Junior Mike McGirr earned the win after allowing just one run in 6.0 innings ... Freshman John Cronin pitched the last 0.2 innings to pick up his first career save ... Freshman Jim Fasano led the Spider offense by going 2-4 with two RBI and one run scored.
Homer Discrepancy ... The Spiders have belted 12 home runs this season to their opponents' four ... Richmond has powered six solo shots, four three-run, one two-run and one grand slam ... Vito Chiaravalloti all share the team lead with two home runs.
Extra Base Hits ... More than half of Richmond's base hits this season have gone for extra bases ... The Spiders' have stroked 25 doubles, three triples and 12 home runs in 66 hits (60.6 percent) ... Sophomores Adam Tidball are tied for the team lead with eight extra-base hits ... Craig leads the team with two triples, is tied for the team lead with two home runs and ranks second with four doubles ... Tidball leads the team with seven doubles and has drilled one home run.
Home of the Spiders ... The home of Richmond baseball is Pitt Field ... Named after legendary Spider coach Mac Pitt, the park holds 600 spectators ... The turf is bermuda grass with red clay and sand baselines ... The field is symmetrical and the dimensions are: 328-350-380-350-328 ... Richmond will play 28 home contests this spring.
Veteran Skipper ... Spider head coach Ron Atkins is in his 18th year at the helm of the Richmond program ... He has compiled a 517-392-4 (.568) all-time record in 913 career games, and has led the Spiders to five NCAA Tournament berths -- 1986, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999 ... Atkins earned his 500th collegiate victory on April 20, 2001 with a 10-3 win against James Madison ... He became the school's all-time winningest baseball coach with his 435th win, on April 6, 1999, an 8-3 decision against Virginia.
Quite a Homestand ... The Spiders will enjoy their longest homestand of the season when they play 10 consecutive games at Pitt Field from March 13 to March 26 ... Five of the contests will be against Virginia schools, with only three against A-10 foes ... After home dates with William & Mary and Virginia Tech, Richmond entertains Penn State for a two-game set, before facing George Mason and Radford ... The Spiders then host UMass for a three-game series before concluding the run by hosting James Madison.
On Deck ... Richmond returns home for a 10-game homestand ... The first week includes home dates with William & Mary (March 13), Virginia Tech (March 14) and a two-game set with Penn State (March 16-17). All games will be played on campus at Pitt Field.
