Junior Mark Reynolds had his biggest game of the young season yesterday, going three for five with three RBIs and two runs scored. He also blasted his first home run of the year, a two-run shot to leftfield in the third inning.
Reynolds' performance came as part of Virginia's (6-1, 0-0 ACC) 10-1 dismantling of James Madison (5-2, 0-0 CAA) yesterday afternoon. The Cavaliers put together eight runs over the second and third innings that allowed senior left-hander Joe Koshansky (2-0) to cruise to his second win of the year.
The Cavalier defense played terrific during the game, making all the routine plays and even some extraordinary ones. Late in the game, sophomore Ryan Zimmerman came in from third to pick up a ball that bounced off the pitcher's glove and barehanded it to Josh Darby at first who did a full split to get the out.
"We played solid defense out there, and we finally made the coach happy," Reynolds said.
The Dukes had a tough game defensively, registering four errors over just two innings. The errors included two missed balls by the sophomore first baseman Matt Bristow and a blown tag at second by freshman shortstop Davis Stoneburner.
Koshansky's performance was particularly important, as the Cavaliers needed a strong showing from their senior pitcher after Sunday's loss to Penn State.Koshansky went for six innings of work and surrendered only four hits and one run.
"Anytime that you have a tough loss, its important that your starting pitcher comes out and gives your team a chance to win early in the game," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "And that's what Joe did. He actually pitched out of a couple of jams in the first three or four innings."
In the third, Koshansky gave up his only run of the day on an RBI single by junior right fielder Mike Butia, but immediately after that, Koshansky single handedly ended the inning. With just one out, and runners on second and third, the senior forced sophomore catcher Matt Sluder to ground out to the mound, froze the runner at second and tossed Sluder out. Then, with the two runners still on base, the lefty struck out freshman Dan Santobianco, sending the Dukes to the dugout.
James Madison sophomore starter Greg Nesbitt had a rough second outing on the year, pitching just 2.2 innings and giving up seven runs on five hits. Many of those runs can be placed squarely on the shoulders of the players behind him and their lack of defensive execution, but his record still fell to 1-1 on the season.
Senior outfielder Matt Street had a big game offensively along with Reynolds, and his two RBI double combined with an error in left field that turned the hit into a triple came just before Reynolds' round-tripper. Reynolds was tied for the team lead in homers last season, but this game was his first major impact of the year.
"I wasn't trying to hit a homerun, I was just trying to make solid contact," Reynolds said.
The Cavaliers gave a superb performance both hitting and fielding and bounced back well after their tough loss two days before. With a three-game series coming up this weekend against Seton Hall, Virginia could use another offensive performance like yesterday's against the Pirates.
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