Apparently the hits didn't stop with Saturday night at Scott Stadium. Yesterday at U.Va. Baseball Field, the Cavaliers (23-21) completed a sweep of ACC rival Maryland (13-27), winning 9-6 and grabbing their fourth consecutive win. The entire series showcased an abundance of hits and Sunday's game was no exception, featuring a combined 27 hits between the two teams.
Maryland got out to an early 1-0 lead, but the Cavaliers came back and broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Cavalier senior shortstop Hunter Wyant.
"It's great to hit a home run in any game," Wyant said. "Hitting a three-run home run to put us up in our last home game is even better."
Wyant, who leads the Cavaliers with a .402 batting average, finished the game with four RBIs.
The Cavaliers scored their other two runs in the inning off of a Dan Street sacrifice fly and a single from Chris Sweet.
Virginia outscored Maryland, 3-2, over the next four innings, giving Virginia a safe 8-3 lead after seven innings.
Maryland, however, rallied late in the game, scoring three runs in the eighth - two off of a home run by designated hitter Kevin McDonald.
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"You've got to give Maryland some credit," Virginia coach Dennis Womack said. "They just hit the ball really well."
Virginia answered back though, getting an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth off of a sacrifice fly by second baseman Shawn McCleary. This proved enough to hold off the Terps as relief pitcher Greg Hansard shut down Maryland in the ninth to get his second save of the season.
Freshman Canon Hickman pitched six solid innings to get his third win of the season.
Yesterday's victory over Maryland culminated the series sweep, but it was even more special because it was the last game for the Cavalier seniors at the U.Va. Baseball Field.
"Our senior class performs extremely well for us," Womack said. "They are a big part of our team and they really stepped up."
"It's been great playing here," said Jon Benick, who went 1-for-3 as the designated hitter in Sunday's win. "We've improved and had more success this season, hopefully we can carry that success the rest of the way."
"There's been great camaraderie here, almost like a fraternity," senior catcher Mark Rueffert said. "These guys are my best friends, it's just been a great experience."
The Cavaliers hope to take their hard-hitting momentum with them on the road as they travel to face off against in state rival James Madison at Mauck Stadium on Tuesday. Their last trip to Harrisonburg featured a combined 27 hits and 20 runs.
"I hope we just continue to keep on hitting the ball well," Rueffert said. "JMU has a great field to hit at, so if we can keep our momentum going I think we have a great chance of picking up a win."
"The bottom line is that we have to play well to win." Womack said. "We hope we can hit as well as last time, but more importantly, convert on a few more of our chances. On the other side of the field we really have to pitch well and control their running game."
After playing at JMU, the Cavaliers will hope to extend their wining ways on the road. Virginia will play seven more road games, including stops at Virginia Tech and ACC rival Clemson, and culminating at Knight Stadium in Fort Mill, S.C., the site of the ACC tournament May 15-20.
"I think this series sweep will giving us some momentum going into JMU and the rest of the way," Benick said.
"This series sweep was a huge thing," Womack said. "It really helped out our positioning for the ACC tournament. The league is very balanced this year. This puts us in a very desirable position"
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