University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
George Washington
Baseball Beats George Washington, 11-10
04/29/2002 | Baseball
April 29, 2002
ARLINGTON, Va. - Trailing 10-9 in the top of the ninth, the Spiders responded with solo home runs from sophomores Chris Dolan and Michael Galligan to capture an 11-10 win against George Washington at Barcroft Park in Arlington, Va. With the win, Richmond (37-7, 16-2 Atlantic 10) retained sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 West.
In a back-and-forth game, Richmond took a 3-0 lead with three runs in the second only to have the Colonials (30-15, 14-4) respond with six runs to take a 6-3 advantage. The Spiders scored five runs in the fifth to regain the lead but found themselves down 10-8 heading into the last two frames. A run in the eighth set up the dramatic ninth inning. Richmond junior Andy Givens entered the game in the ninth with a runner on second and no outs. He closed the contest by retiring the next three batters en route to his second save.
Richmond smacked six of the game's eight home runs as junior Matt Craig, sophomore Adam Tidball and freshmen Brian Ruscello and John Cronin combined with Dolan and Galligan.
After a scoreless first, Richmond struck for three runs on four hits. Ruscello delivered the first blow with a two-run homer to left center that scored Tidball who led off the frame with a double to left field. Left fielder A.J. Board scored the third tally when he walked and moved around the bases, scoring on a David Reaver to left center. Board finished the day 2-4 with two runs.
George Washington answered in its half of the second and halted Spider starter Mike McGirr's scoreless inning streak at 15. The Colonials struck for six runs to take a 6-3 lead. The big hits of the inning were a three-run shot by Jeff Fertitta and a two-run double by Matt Krimmel.
The Colonials added to their lead with a run in the third. Chris Barry singled through the left side and came home on a Jason Baker fielder's choice to make the score 7-3.
On the strength of three home runs, Richmond posted a five-run fourth to take an 8-7 lead. Cronin started the barrage with a two-run shot to dead center. Craig then cracked a two-run home run that caromed off the green house that sits behind the right field wall. A solo shot by Tidball completed the frame.
Fertitta's second home run of the day, this a two-run lazer to left center, put the Colonials back on top, 9-8, after five innings. When Krimmel singled home Travis Crowder GW led 10-8 in the sixth.
The Spiders started off the sixth and seventh with doubles but both Craig and Board where stranded on the base paths. Richmond left nine runners after seven innings. Richmond closed within 10-9 when Craig scored on Tidball's double-play grounder in the eighth. Craig went 3-4 on the afternoon with two RBI and two runs scored.
Dolan and Galligan followed with ninth-inning heroics to propel the Spiders' to its second consecutive win. Freshman Tim Rice improved to 4-0 after throwing 2.0 innings of one-hit baseball.
Richmond returns to action at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 when it hosts VCU at Pitt Field.
