University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Xavier
No. 19 Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Xavier
04/19/2002 | Baseball
April 19, 2002
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - In a battle of the Atlantic 10 West's top teams, No. 19 Richmond and Xavier split a doubleheader at Hayden Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Musketeers sent the Spiders to their first Conference loss by a 2-1 count in the first game, but Richmond responded with a 2-0 win behind a complete-game shutout from junior Mike McGirr in game two.
Two of the Atlantic 10's top pitchers dueled in the first game, with Xavier's Adam Jahnsen emerging in a 2-1 decision. Jahnsen threw 6.1 innings and allowed one unearned run. Richmond's Tim Stauffer fell to 11-1 after allowing two runs in 6.0 innings. The Xavier defense turned four double plays including a game-ending twin killing.
Junior Mike McGirr dominated the second game of the doubleheader by allowing just five hits in 7.0 innings to post his second consecutive shutout. The Lexington, Mass. native struck out two in his fourth complete game of the season. Junior David Reaver extended his hit streak to the longest ever in Richmond history (33 games) by going 2-3.
GAME 1
In the top of the first, Richmond (34-6, 13-1 Atlantic 10) junior third baseman David Reaver laced a single into the left center gap and took sole possession of Richmond's all-time longest hit streak at 32 games. In the second, Richmond took advantage of two errors to score the first run of the game. Second baseman Brian Ruscello drove in junior Vito Chiaravalloti with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Xavier (21-17, 11-2 Atlantic 10) scored a pair in their half of the second to take a 2-1 lead. A Matt Tedford ground out scored Mark Andres and a Kevin McKnight double scored Brett Smith. Xavier loaded the bases on three single in the sixth but a diving catch by centerfielder Bryan Pritz and two strikeouts by Stauffer to end the frame ended the threat.
The Spiders mounted a rally in the seventh with runners on first and second and one out. Musketeer closer Kevin Cunningham came on and forced right fielder A.J. Board into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Xavier's Jahnsen improved to 8-4 overall and Cunningham earned his sixth save. It marked the first time this season Richmond lost two consecutive games.
GAME 2
In the second game, Richmond efficiently scored two runs in the top of the first. After Pritz and Reaver set the table with singles, Matt Craig drove in Pritz on a ground out and Reaver came home on a Chiaravalloti sac fly to center. Reaver's single to right extended his hit streak to 33 games.
Xavier loaded the bases with one out in its half of the first. Richmond starter Mike McGirr retired the next two batters and kept the score 2-0 after one inning. The junior right-hander allowed only five hits and stranded seven Musketeers as he threw his second consecutive shutout.
The Spiders and Musketeers complete their three-game set tomorrow, April 20.
