Starting pitcher Joe Koshansky retired 10 of his last 13 batters Wednesday and first baseman Eric Christensen provided a solo homerun as the Cavaliers defeated James Madison 5-3 in Harrisonburg. With the win, Virginia improved its record to 15-8 and swept the season series with the Dukes for the first time since 1999. In addition, the Cavaliers picked up only their third road win of the season.
Virginia played "a solid game against somebody else on somebody else's field who's got a good club," coach Dennis Womack said.
The Cavaliers gained an early advantage with a two-run first inning. Junior Paul Gillespie continued his RBI binge, driving in the first Virginia run on a hard shot to James Madison shortstop Nathan Doyle. Virginia's second run came on the same play, when Doyle committed a throwing error trying to throw Gillespie out at first.
Virginia increased its lead to 3-0 in the third inning when Freshman Ryan Zimmerman's infield single scored shortstop Mark Reynolds. The Dukes answered quickly, driving in two runs to cut Virginia's margin to one. Virginia's Christensen provided an answer of his own, however, hitting an opposite field blast in the fourth inning.
"It was an outside fastball, Christensen said. "I thought he was [going outside] because he struck me out on an outside pitch my first at bat. I knew I was just gonna go with it. I knew I hit it pretty good; I didn't think it was gonna go out, but it sneaked over the fence. It's good to have that feeling."
Christensen's home run stands as an even greater feat considering that his start in Wednesday's game was only his second of the season.
"I've been waiting all year for a time to contribute to the team," the senior infielder said. "Today was my day to start. I did my little part to help the team win."
After Christensen's heroics put the Cavaliers up two runs, Virginia rode its pitching staff to victory. Koshanksy began his streak of dominance after Madison's Mike Butia cut the Cavalier lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Koshansky retired the next two batters in the fourth and pitched perfect innings in both the fifth and the seventh.
"Joe went out there and pitched his head off," Christensen said.
Koshansky also pitched a gutsy sixth inning. After two hits put Madison runners on first and third with no outs, Koshansky struck out Doyle and forced Butia into a double play groundout.
"The play of the game defensively for us was the double play," coach Womack said. "They had guys at first and third, hit a hard ball, and we really turned the ball well on that. We had to."
While Koshansky held the Dukes' batters in check, Christensen provided an insurance run in the eighth inning. Madison pitcher Geoff Degener threw a wild pitch that allowed Cavalier runners to advance to second and third. In response, Duke catcher Matt Sluder tried to throw out the runner at second, but slipped and threw the ball away. Christensen, who had recorded his second hit of the day, capitalized on the opportunity and scored from third. His run proved to be the game-winner, as Madison scored one more run in the ninth before falling 5-4.
With the victory, Virginia recorded its sixth win in a row and gained some important momentum for its upcoming series against Maryland.
"I think we're getting better, and were doing some good things, Womack said. "We're just making the plays when we need to make them, and it's great."
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