April 30, 2003

Box Score

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Junior catcher Adam Tidball (Bethesda, Md.) ripped two of the Spiders five home runs in a 13-hit, 11-5, win over cross-town rival VCU. The Spiders belted nine extra-base hits to improve to 36-8. Richmond also took the season series 3-1 against VCU (34-11) and increased to a 32-29 overall series lead.

Richmond responded to VCU's one-run first in its half of the frame hitting for the cycle to take a 3-1 lead. Centerfielder Bryan Pritz (Wilmette, Ill.) led off with a triple to right center. Shortstop David Reaver (Union Bridge, Md.) then scored Pritz (3-for-5 today) on a double down the left field line. Designated hitter Ben Zeskind (Miami, Fla.) capped the multiple-hit inning with a two-run shot to right field, which sent Reaver (3-for-5 today) home. Leftfielder Michael Galligan (Woodbury, N.Y.) finished the cycle with an infield single.

The Spiders added to the advantage with two more runs in the second. Tidball (2-for-4 today) started the frame with a solo shot over the left field fence. Second baseman Bobby LeNoir (Wilmington, Del.) reached base after being hit by Ram pitcher Jon Link and advanced to second on a Pritz single. The duo then performed a double steal before LeNoir touched home on a Zeskind sacrifice fly.

After two innings of scoreless play, Richmond exploded for four runs in the fifth. Sophomore first baseman Jim Fasano (Horsham, Pa.) launched a two-run homer that scored Reaver. Rightfielder Vito Chiaravalloti (Middletown, N.J.) followed with a single to left field before crossing home on a Galligan (2-for-4 today) home run.

The Rams responded in the seventh, tacking on four runs. Joe Meador singled up the middle to start the frame. After Justin Mattison walked, Danny Lopaze stroked an RBI single, scoring Meador. VCU second baseman Nick Jones finished the inning's scoring on a three-run shot over the left-center fence to cut the Spider lead to 9-5.

In the Spiders' half of the frame, Tidball launched his second homer of the day, third in two days. Third baseman David Thomas (McLean, Va.) scored on the homer and gave Richmond an 11-5 lead.

Richmond's Andy Givens (Bel Air, Md.) earned his third win after throwing 3.0 innings of relief and allowing only one Ram hit. VCU's Justin Orenduff took the loss, falling to 6-3 after giving up three runs on four hits in the first inning.

The Spiders return to action this weekend with a doubleheader Friday, May 2 and a single game Saturday, May 3 in their final regular-season home series, against George Washington. First pitch is 1 p.m. both days.