University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
St Josephs Pa
No. 22 Baseball Complete Series Sweep At Saint Joseph's, 12-3
04/07/2002 | Baseball
April 7, 2002
Norristown, Pa. - University of Richmond juniors David Reaver (3-4, four runs, 1 RBI) and Vito Chiaravalloti (3-5, three RBI, two runs scored) continued their torrid play and led the Spiders to a 12-3 win and an Atlantic 10 series sweep against Saint Joseph's at Elmswood Park in Norristown, Pa.
In the midst of a career-long 24-game hit streak, Reaver has raised his average above .400 for the first time by hitting .538 (7-13) against the Hawks. He scored seven runs on the weekend and stands just seven games shy of tying the Spider all-time record of 31 games set by Sean Casey in 1995. Chiaravalloti hit .455 this weekend, including two monster home runs and seven total RBI.
This afternoon, Richmond (28-3, 9-0 Atlantic 10) pounded out 15 hits and completed the sweep of its conference games against teams from the Atlantic 10 East Division. Saint Joseph's (4-24-1, 1-8) was outscored 33-10 in the three-game set.
The Spiders received terrific pitching from starter Mike McGirr and relievers Derek Duclos and Jason Bolinski. McGirr improved to 7-1 on the season after throwing 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits. Duclos allowed one run on two hits while striking out four in 2.0 innings of work. Bolinski worked a perfect ninth, striking out two.
The Hawks took their first lead of the series with a run in the first. Justin Godusky knocked in Kevin Dougher with a two-out single to right center.
Chiaravalloti belted his second two-run home run of the weekend in the third to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Reaver had extended his hit streak to 24 games with an inning-beginning double to left field. After an out, Chiaravalloti extended his arms on the first pitch and smoked the ball approximately 400-feet to center field.
In danger in the fourth, McGirr responded by striking out the side. Saint Joseph's Michael Walls began the frame with a pop fly to right fielder John Cronin who saw the ball pop out of his glove. Walls reached second on the error. Richmond's junior right-hander responded by striking out three consecutive Hawks to end the threat.
Hot-hitting Reaver scored the Spiders' third run in the fifth when he tripled to the left center gap and came home on a Matt Craig sac fly to right.
Two outstanding defensive plays kept the game 3-1 after five. The Hawks' Michael DeLorenzo walked to start the inning and was running when Pace Bradshaw drove a single up the middle. Spider center fielder Bryan Pritz charged the ball and threw to third baseman Reaver whose swipe tag stopped DeLorenzo. Catcher Chris Dolan then gunned Bradshaw down attempting to steal second. Dolan also enjoyed a fine weekend at the plate, going 5-14 (.357) with five RBI and four runs scored.
The Spiders squandered a bases loaded, one-out opportunity in the sixth with two strikeouts. Saint Joseph's starter Mike Minerva (1-5) got Jim O'Leary and Pritz to end the inning. In the home sixth, the Hawks strung together three consecutive hits including an RBI single from John Kokol that scored Godusky.
Richmond batted around in an eight-run seventh to take an 11-2 lead. The first two runs came home on a wild pitch and error before Dolan knocked in Chiaravalloti on a fielder's choice. Designated hitter A.J. Board continued his fine weekend with a two-run bomb to left field that increased the lead to 8-2. Board finished the weekend hitting .667 (4-6) with three runs scored and two RBI.
Michael Galligan scored the team's ninth run on a Reaver bloop single to center. Craig followed with a two-run double down the right field line that plated Pritz and Reaver. Craig went 2-2 with two RBI and a run scored in the frame.
The Hawks recorded a run of Duclos in the eighth. Godusky walked and scored on a Walls double to right center. The Spiders earned that run back when Chiaravalloti delivered an infield single with the bases loaded and gave the visitors a 12-3 lead.
Freshmen Bryan Pritz hit .385 (5-13) with four runs scored and four RBI.
Richmond returns to action at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9 at Old Dominion. The Spiders return to Atlantic 10 action by hosting a weekend series against Duquesne on April 13-14. The three-get set against the Dukes marks the first conference series against a fellow A-10 West member.
