April 26, 2003

Box Score

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Designated hitter A.J. Board (Raleigh, N.C.) stroked the game-winning hit to score second baseman Ben Zeskind (Miami, Fla.) in Richmond's 1-0 win of the second game against Xavier. The Musketeers took the first game 1-0 to knot the series at 1-1.

After five scoreless innings in the first game, Xavier's Eric Greenwell belted the game-winning solo home run over the right field fence, taking a 1-0 lead. Musketeer Ryan Schreen followed with a single up the middle. Xavier's Jay Johnson then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Richmond pulled a double play, throwing out Schreen at third to end the scoring threat.

In the bottom of the sixth, senior Vito Chiaravalloti (Middletown, N.J.) ripped what looked to be the record-breaking home run, but Xavier's centerfielder, Johnson, caught it in the fence.

In the second game, the Spiders strung together three singles in the fourth frame to take the 1-0 win. Zeskind led off with a centerfield single before advancing to third on a Jim Fasano (Horsham, Pa.) left field line single. The Spiders DH, Board, stepped up to the plate with two outs and runners on second and third. Board stroked a left field line single to score Zeskind and end Xavier pitcher Greg Wiggers scoreless streak. Wiggers went 22 1/3 innings without allowing an opponent to cross the plate.

Both squads played solid defense allowing a combined 16 hits and two runs in both games.

Richmond's Jason Bolinski (Hockessin, Del.) improved to a perfect 7-0 after striking out five. He allowed only four hits in 5.0 innings. Sophomore southpaw Tim Rice (Brookfield, Conn.) earned his first save in the nightcap, fanning four in 2.0 innings. Rice did not allow a hit in the outing. Xavier's Jarret Sues improved to 5-4, while Tim Stauffer (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) took his second loss of the year. Stauffer (7-2) allowed five hits in his eighth complete game.

The Spiders and Musketeers close out the series at Pitt Field tomorrow, April 27 at 12:15 p.m.