As the Colonial fans jumped and screamed in jubilation, the Colonials emptied the dugout to mob Kruer, who slammed his foot on the plate when he reached home. The Rams, who won't be able to repeat as Atlantic 10 champs becaues this was their second loss, still had a chance in the bottom of the inning, but could not take advantage of a leadoff single from Scott Brown; Josh Nestor left him stranded at second with a fly out to center to end the game.

While Kruer's homer, which was his ninth of the year, was certainly heroic, the player of the game award must go to Colonial pitcher Derek Haese, who entered the game in the ninth inning only to pitch a full length game himself. In his nine innings of relief, he gave up no runs, six hits, two walks, and struck out five against a very strong lineup. And again, not to take away anything from Kruer's homer, but the play of the game has to go to Mickey Shupin, as I said in an earlier entry, for his amazing diving catch that kept a run off the board for URI and allowed the Colonials to tie it in the ninth.

On a personal note, I might say this is the best game I've ever witnessed in person- except that I had the fortune of being at the Yankees game a few weeks ago against the Rangers in which the Yankees came back from a 10-1 deficit to win 14-13 in extra innings.