WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Sometimes, it's the ugliest games that are the most fulfilling.
In their only game of the year against William & Mary (21-9, 3-3 CAA), Virginia (26-7, 8-4 ACC) scored seven runs in the last three innings despite having just two hits after the third frame, and won their sixth in a row, 11-9.
Virginia capitalized on late-inning heroics for the second time in three games, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth to extend their second longest winning streak of the season.
Junior shortstop Mark Reynolds displayed his toughness by staying in the game after being hit by a pitch in the seventh, with Virginia trailing 7-4. He was drilled in the left wrist swinging at a Phil Bartleski fastball, not while trying to get out of its path, and Tribe infielders thought it was a routine groundout until they saw Reynolds writhing in pain in the batters box.
Reynolds shook it off and took his base, later coming around to score when Tribe third baseman John Lentz threw away a Matt Dunn bunt.
Cavalier sophomore Ryan Zimmerman tied the game at seven later that inning when Will Rhymes booted a grounder at second.
It was the second error of the inning for a Rhymes -- left fielder Jon, twin brother of Will, started the Cavaliers off when he dropped a leadoff fly ball from freshman Tim Henry.
Going into the ninth, Virginia found itself down by two with and an injured Reynolds coming up to bat. Batting leadoff in the game -- a switch from his normal spot in the order necessitated by a broken wrist to everyday right fielder Matt Street -- Reynolds had earlier delivered a two-RBI standup triple in the second, which put the Cavaliers up 4-0.
Reynolds was in obvious pain and could not even swing the bat, but there he was striding to the plate with three outs to go. Virginia's seven-home run man then did something no one in the stands thought he'd do: he laid down an infield bunt single to start a Cavalier rally.
"The other team didn't know [that I couldn't swing]," Reynolds said. "Coach just told me to go up there and act like I was going to swing it, then just lay down a bunt."
Virginia had its first hit since the third, albeit not a pretty one, and Dunn then walked to put the go-ahead run at the plate.
Zimmerman cut the lead to one with his first hit of the game, an RBI single to left, and stole second to take away the chance of a game-ending double play.
The next batter, senior tri-captain Paul Gillispie struck out swinging, but the ball squirted away from catcher Mike DeCarlo, and in came Dunn. Gillispie reached first, and the rally was very much alive with only one man down.
Designated hitter Josh Darby really did go down two batters later, while running out a throw from Lentz that sailed over first base. Two runs came home to give Virginia its first lead since the second inning, but Darby was forced to leave the game with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
"I think this is one of the ugliest games I've ever played in," Dunn said. "But we came out with a win."
Senior Canon Hickman (4-2) got the win despite allowing two runs in one inning pitched. He was bailed out by his teammates as well as William & Mary mistakes -- which totaled five errors on the night.
After bad breaks cost them a conference game at N.C. State two weekends ago, things evened out with some friendly rolls in Williamsburg. The Cavaliers hope the ball continues to roll their way with Clemson coming to town for a three-game set Friday.
Read More
Live tracker: the men’s basketball offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Emory Huffman and Xander Tilock | 3 hours agoA frenetic offseason likely awaits.
Virginia’s future belongs to ‘the silent assassin’
By Michael Liebermann | 7 hours agoOdom is more reserved, people around his programs say. He is also a fiery competitor.
Women’s lacrosse overpowers VCU in dominant road win
By Eleanor Buchanan | 10 hours agoVirginia gained some offensive momentum before a tough upcoming slate.
