University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Rhode Island
Richmond Baseball Takes Two from Rhode Island
04/05/2003 | Baseball
April 5, 2003
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond junior Tim Stauffer (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) struck out 11, breaking the program record for career strikeouts, and led the Spiders to a 10-1 win against Rhode Island in the first game of an Atlantic 10 doubleheader. Sophomore Jim Fasano (Horsham, Pa.) delivered the game-winning two-run double to right field in the bottom of the seventh to propel the Spiders to a 9-8 win in game two. Richmond improved to 23-5, 6-1 A-10, while Rhode Island fell to 11-15, 5-3 A-10.
Stauffer, a preseason All-American, improved to 5-1 throwing his fourth consecutive complete game, his fifth of this season in game one. His career strikeout total now stands at 295, four more than Sean Gavaghan who held the record until today. Freshman Ben Zeskind (Miami, Fla.) went 3-3 with four RBI, including a three-run home run in the fourth.
Trailing 8-7 heading into the bottom of the seventh of game two, senior Vito Chiaravalloti (Middletown, N.J.) and Zeskind reached base when they were hit by starter Dan Frederick. Fasano ripped the game-winning double, his fifth RBI of the game and sixth of the doubleheader, to seal the win.
After Stauffer struck out two in the top of the first, the Spiders struck for two runs in their half of the frame. Junior David Reaver (Union Bridge, Md.) reached on an infield single, stole second, moved to third on a Chiarvalloti single and scored when Reid Willett's pick-off attempt sailed past the first baseman. Chiaravalloti later scored on a Zeskind single to right field.
The Spiders increased their lead to 3-0 with a run in the second. Junior Bobby LeNoir (Wilmington, Del.) reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a Bryan Pritz (Wilmette, Ill.) double to left center field. The Rams scored their only run in the third. D.J. Burns led off the inning with a single and later scored on a Matt Sullivan sacrifice fly to right.
Back-to-back home runs from Zeskind and Fasano pushed the Spiders to a 7-1 lead after four innings. Zeskind belted a three-run homer to left center and Fasano followed, on the next pitch, launching a blast to right center.
Stauffer struck out two more in the fifth, eclipsing the school record. Richmond added two in its fifth, the first when a LeNoir single to left field plated Chris Dolan (Holmdel, N.J.), who had reached on a one-out single. LeNoir then stole third and scored on a Pritz sacrifice fly. The Spiders added one more in the sixth frame when an Adam Tidball (Bethesda, Md.) single to left center scored Zeskind, completing the 10-1 victory.
In game two, the Rams rattled off four runs on five hits in the top of the first, including a three-run homer by Adam Houston. Richmond answered with two in the bottom of the first, closing the gap to 4-2. Fasano ripped a two-run single to right center, scoring Reaver and Chiaravalloti.
The Rams added another run in the second, before the Spiders responded with three to tie the game, 5-5. A Pritz single scored Galligan, before Reaver singled to right sending home LeNoir and Pritz. Fasano's second homer of the afternoon, a solo shot, gave Richmond a 6-5 lead in the third.
A Pritz sac fly plated LeNoir in the fourth and increased the Spiders' advantage to 7-5. The Rams took the lead with three in the seventh, 8-7. Wayne Russo scored the go-ahead run on a John Cronin (Branford, Conn.) wild pitch. Fasano's timely hit sealed the Spiders' 16th home win this season.
Richmond and Rhode Island conclude this three-game series with a Noon game on Sunday, April 6.
