May 15, 2003

Norwich, Connecticut -

Box Score

Down by one run to Rhode Island after seven innings, Duquesne's baseball team opened the eighth inning with two hits to tie the game at 2-2 before the lights at Dodd Stadium went completely out, forcing a stop to the Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship Tournament contest. This consolation bracket opening game will be completed Friday following the GW-UMass second round game.

Senior John Rieg, who opened the eighth with a double, scored on junior Pete Maropis' single to tie the score with no outs in the top of the eighth. Freshman Steve Maiolo replaced Maropis at first base as a pinch runner before the game was called.

During the first full lunar eclipse visible in the Northeast in over three years, at approximately 11:15 p.m., a bank of lights in right field went out. After a discussion with the crew chief and both coaches, it was decided the game would resume under those conditions with Rhode Island leading 2-1. After the Maropis' hit, the area then lost all power, throwing Dodd Stadium into total darkness. It was decided to suspend the game tied at 2-2 in the top of the eighth with no outs.

Rhode Island got out to an early lead in the bottom of the second on Justin Lamboy's sacrifice fly which drove in Adam Houston. The Rams scored their second run of the inning on an RBI double from Mike Rainville, scoring Tom Venedam.

Duquesne responded in the top of the third when Rieg's RBI single drove in junior Dan Schwartzbauer who had doubled with one out.

Fourth-seeded Duquesne moved to the consolation bracket of this double-elimination event following their 6-3 loss to Xavier. Rhode Island, the third seed, lost to George Washington by a 7-2 score in the other opening round contest on Thursday.

The game will be resumed at that point tomorrow (top of the 8th, Maiolo on 1st, no outs, 2-2 score) after the second round games, #1 Richmond vs. #5 Xavier at 12:30 p.m. and #2 Massachusetts vs. #6 George Washington, are completed. The winner of this DU/URI game will meet the lowest seeded loser from one of these two preceding games later Friday night