May 31, 2003
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -- Mike McGirr pitched a nine-hitter and Adam Tidball hit a three-run homer as Richmond defeated Illinois-Chicago 5-0 in a NCAA Regional on Saturday.
McGirr (10-1) threw his first shutout of the season and his fourth complete game as Richmond (47-14) remained alive in the double-elimination tournament.
The Spiders play the loser of a later game between Stanford and UC Riverside on Saturday night.
Brad Ryan had three hits for Illinois-Chicago (39-18), who were playing in the postseason for the first time ever, and was eliminated with its second loss.
McGirr has won 22 of 24 decisions over the past two years. He struck out seven and walked two. After allowing the first hitter of the game to reach third, McGirr did not let another runner past second until the ninth.
Illinois-Chicago starter Ryan Martin (7-1) lasted 5 2-3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts. The redshirt freshman lost his first collegiate game, and allowed his first home run in 72 innings.
Eric Xidis struck out six in 3 1-3 innings of one-hit relief.
David Thomas gave the Spiders a 2-0 lead in the fourth with a two-run single.
With two outs in the fifth, Jim Fasano walked and Vito Chiaravalloti singled ahead of Tidball, who hit his ninth home run of the season.
Flames shortstop Jordan DeVoir extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a single in the ninth.