04-17-2002, 12:58 AM
The University of Virginia baseball team dropped a 15-6 decision to the #19 ranked Richmond Spiders in front of 594 spectators this evening at the UVa Baseball Field, home of Davenport Field. Richmond held a 6-4 advantage after two full innings of play, however, the Spiders scored nine of the next 11 runs en route to a nine-run victory.
Richmond jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when the trio of Matt Craig, Vito Chiaravalloti (double) and Jim Fasano each recorded a hit and later scored a run. In the top of the second inning, the Spiders added three more runs to take a 6-0 lead when Bryan Pritz (double), David Reaver (double) and Craig each recorded a hit and scored a run to give Richmond a six-run advantage.
Virginia cut into the Spiders lead and made it a 6-4 contest when the Cavaliers scored four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run to left field by Andrew Riesenfeld that also drove in Rob Newton, who doubled to reach base. UVa's Kyle Werman (single) and David Stone (walk) also scored a run after two sacrifice fly RBI's by Matt Street and Dan Street.
Richmond added another run in the top of the third inning to take a 7-4 lead when Adam Tidball singled and later scored on a RBI-double to right-center field by Reaver. However, the Cavaliers made it a 7-5 game in the bottom half of the inning when Chris Sweet doubled to left field (advanced to third on an error) and scored a run on a RBI-single to center field by Newton.
The Spiders jumped out to a 13-5 lead in the top of the seventh inning when Richmond scored six runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-run home run to left field by pinch hitter Chris Dolan. UVa cut the Spiders' lead to 13-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Newton doubled and then scored a run on a RBI-single through the left side by Stone. But Richmond came right back and added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 15-6 lead when Craig and Chiaravalloti crossed the plate to give the Spiders a nine-run advantage.
Richmond pitcher Thomas Martin (1-0) picked up the win after going 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit with two strikeouts. UVa's Canon Hickman (3-4) took the loss after going just 1.1 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits.
With the loss, Virginia's record falls to 19-19 overall, while the win improves Richmond's record to 33-4 on the year. The Cavaliers and Spiders will return to action on Wednesday, April 17th to play the second game of the home-and-home series at Pitt Field in Richmond, Va.
Richmond jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when the trio of Matt Craig, Vito Chiaravalloti (double) and Jim Fasano each recorded a hit and later scored a run. In the top of the second inning, the Spiders added three more runs to take a 6-0 lead when Bryan Pritz (double), David Reaver (double) and Craig each recorded a hit and scored a run to give Richmond a six-run advantage.
Virginia cut into the Spiders lead and made it a 6-4 contest when the Cavaliers scored four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run to left field by Andrew Riesenfeld that also drove in Rob Newton, who doubled to reach base. UVa's Kyle Werman (single) and David Stone (walk) also scored a run after two sacrifice fly RBI's by Matt Street and Dan Street.
Richmond added another run in the top of the third inning to take a 7-4 lead when Adam Tidball singled and later scored on a RBI-double to right-center field by Reaver. However, the Cavaliers made it a 7-5 game in the bottom half of the inning when Chris Sweet doubled to left field (advanced to third on an error) and scored a run on a RBI-single to center field by Newton.
The Spiders jumped out to a 13-5 lead in the top of the seventh inning when Richmond scored six runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-run home run to left field by pinch hitter Chris Dolan. UVa cut the Spiders' lead to 13-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Newton doubled and then scored a run on a RBI-single through the left side by Stone. But Richmond came right back and added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 15-6 lead when Craig and Chiaravalloti crossed the plate to give the Spiders a nine-run advantage.
Richmond pitcher Thomas Martin (1-0) picked up the win after going 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit with two strikeouts. UVa's Canon Hickman (3-4) took the loss after going just 1.1 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits.
With the loss, Virginia's record falls to 19-19 overall, while the win improves Richmond's record to 33-4 on the year. The Cavaliers and Spiders will return to action on Wednesday, April 17th to play the second game of the home-and-home series at Pitt Field in Richmond, Va.