University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Virginia Tech
No. 23 Baseball Equals Most Wins In A Season With 19-14 Victory At Virginia Tech
05/09/2002 | Baseball
May 9, 2002
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Sophomore Chris Dolan hit for the cycle and helped the University of Richmond to a season-high 19 runs and 21 hits as the Spiders defeated Virginia Tech, 19-14, at English Field. With the win, the Spiders improved to 43-8 and tied Richmond's all-time mark for wins in a season.
The Spiders took a 15-1 lead after five runs in the second, third and fourth. Virginia Tech's 10-run fourth got the Hokies back in the game and a two-run fifth made it 15-13 before a 73-minute rain delay halted the action. Richmond outscored Virginia Tech 4-1 after the break, including a two-run ninth where Dolan smacked a triple to complete the cycle. The Holmdel, N.J. native went 5-6 with five runs scored and two RBI in the game.
Virginia Tech took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the first. Marc Tugwell reached on a bad-hop single and scored when Wyatt Toregas slapped a grounder that took a tough hop and bounced away from second baseman. It was the beginning of a stellar day for Toregas who finished 3-5 with two home runs and five RBI.
The Spiders used five hits to take a 5-1 lead in the second. Sophomore Adam Tidball began the rally with a solo home run to left center. After Dolan and A.J. Board singled and John Cronin walked, sophomore Bryan Pritz extended his hit streak to 22 games with a two-run single to left center. Junior David Reaver followed with a two-run double down the left field line to complete the five-run inning. Both Pritz and Reaver collected four hits on the afternoon, while Pritz recorded six RBI and Reaver notched four.
Another five-run inning in the third put Richmond in front 10-1. Freshman Brian Ruscello and Cronin delivered RBI singles and then scored on a Pritz home run to deep center field. Cronin finished the day 2-4 with four runs scored. Pritz then scored his second run on a Reaver double to left center.
For the third consecutive inning, Richmond batted around in the fourth. Tidball singled and scored on a wild pitch. Dolan doubled and scored on a Pritz single. Board and Cronin, who both walked, scored on a Reaver single. Pritz later came home when junior Vito Chiaravalloti walked with the bases loaded. It was 15-1 heading to the bottom of the frame.
Virginia Tech responded with a 10-run fourth to make the score 15-11. The Hokies were helped by two Spider errors, but Toregas belted a grand slam, Chris Hutchison had a two-run shot and Brad Bauder had two doubles for the home squad.
Another Spider error allowed two runs in the fifth when Toregas belted a homer to left center. It was 15-13 after five innings and the driving rain forced the rain delay.
Richmond loaded the bases with no outs but managed just one run on a Chiaravalloti sacrifice fly in the sixth. Dolan's seventh homer of the season sailed over the left center wall and gave Richmond a 17-13 lead in the seventh.
The Hokies closed to 17-14 with a run in their half of the seventh. Spencer Harris singled and scored on a Tugwell ground-out. Richmond scored two more in the ninth to increase the lead to 19-14. Dolan's RBI triple gave him the cycle and he later scored on a Bobby LeNoir triple.
Freshman Derek Duclos earned his first collegiate win, while Virginia Tech starter Josh Biber suffered the loss. Junior Andy Givens earned his third save after throwing the final 4.0 innings and allowing one run on two hits.
Richmond will complete the 2002 regular season with a three-game Atlantic 10 series against Dayton at Pitt Field this weekend. The Spiders and Flyers will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 and play the regular-season finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 12.
