University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Nebraska (NCAA Super Regional)
Chiaravalloti Ninth Inning Grand Slam Allows Spiders To Survive
06/08/2002 | Baseball
June 8, 2002
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Lincoln, Neb. - Vito Chiaravalloti belted a one-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to snap a 2-2 tie to give the Richmond Spiders a 6-2 win over the Nebraska baseball team and force a decisive game three in the NCAA Super Regional at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park in Lincoln on Saturday afternoon.
Chiaravalloti smashed a 2-2 pitch from Nebraska reliever Steve Hale over the left field berm to help Richmond even the best-of-three Super Regional series with the Huskers at one win apiece while improving to 53-12 on the season. The Huskers slipped to 46-19 overall, while seeing their 10-game home winning streak come to an end.
The dramatic home run hushed Nebraska's raucus school-record crowd of 8,481 and made a winner of Spider starter Thomas Martin, who improved to 8-0 on the year by tossing Richmond's second consecutive complete game in the series.
Martin, a sophomore left-hander, handcuffed the Huskers through the first six innings, holding Nebraska to just two hits while Richmond carried a 2-0 lead into the seventh. Nebraska finally got to Martin in the seventh on Jeff Blevins' two-run homer to left.
After Blevins' sixth homer of the year and second of the NCAA Tournament, Martin settled back down and retired the final eight Huskers in order to end a 102-pitch performance. Martin surrendered just four hits and walked only the Husker leadoff hitter Jeff Leise in the top of the first inning, while striking out eight. The four hits were a season low for the Huskers.
Chiaravalloti's 23rd home run of the season also spoiled a strong outing by freshman Brian Duensing, who held the Spiders in check for five innings in relief of starter Aaron Marsden. Duensing allowed just three hits in five innings, after coming on with one out, a run in and a runner on second base in the bottom of the fourth. Duensing left the runner stranded at second to keep the Huskers within striking distance at 2-0.
Despite the strong outing, Duensing fell to 6-2 on the year by giving up a leadoff single to A.J. Board to start the ninth. Bryan Pritz followed with a sacrifice bunt, to set up an intentional walk to David Reaver to give NU chance at an inning-ending double play. But Duensing uncorked a wild pitch on his second pitch to Matt Craig allowing the runners to move up to second and third. Duensing then intentionally walked Craig to load the bases, before Hale came on in relief and surrendered the home run.
Richmond jumped to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after a leadoff walk to Pritz was followed by consecutive one-out singles by Craig and Chiaravalloti. The Spiders added a run in the fourth inning on Board's one-out RBI double to left scored Chris Dolan, who had singled to start the rally. Dolan's base hit was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Bobby LeNoir who was tagged out by Husker first baseman Matt Hopper to advance Dolan to second base.
Hopper, Nebraska's cleanup hitter, immediately grabbed his left hand in pain after making the tag. Hopper left the game with a strained thumb and is questionable for Sunday's game.
Josh Birmingham replaced Hopper in the fourth, and started NU's rally in the seventh with a one-out single, before Blevins homered to tie the score. Joe Simokaitis and Jed Morris were the only other Huskers to manage hits on the day.
Chiaravalotti finished the day 3-for-5 with one run scored and five RBIs to lead the Spiders, while Board added three hits and an RBI to pace a 10-hit Richmond attack. Dolan added two hits, while Craig and Adam Tidball both pitched in singles for the Spiders.
Junior left-hander Jamie Rodrigue (7-3, 4.03 ERA) is expected to start for the Huskers, while Richmond will counter with junior right-hander Mike McGirr (12-1, 3.76 ERA) on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
