Following a double-header sweep of the Fordham Rams Saturday, the Virginia baseball team sent senior right-handed starting pitcher Jeff Kamrath to the mound on Sunday, with all signs pointing to another home series sweep of a non-conference foe. However, Kamrath struggled with his control during a first inning in which the Rams scored three runs. The Cavaliers' offense was ineffectual and unable to sustain a comeback, as Virginia (8-3) fell to Fordham by a score of 3-2.
"There were a lot of wasted scoring opportunities," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "We left nine guys on base and we just could not get a two-out hit. I'm still not happy with our offensive execution. Today it cost us a ball game."
After his rough first inning of work, Kamrath settled down and pitched a gem until he was removed following seven innings of work. Beginning with a strikeout of Fordham catcher John Mollicone to end the third inning, Kamrath retired 13 straight Fordham hitters.
"[During the first inning] I wasn't hitting my spots or throwing the ball through the strike zone," Kamrath said. "I couldn't get ahead of hitters, and that was my fault. If you fall behind hitters and put them in better hitting counts, you become more predictable."
The Cavaliers were unsuccessful at the plate in clutch situations. Fordham starting pitcher Cory Riordan pitched six strong innings, stymieing the Virginia hitters, especially when there were runners in scoring position. In the fifth and seventh innings, the Cavaliers put runners in scoring position but were unable to capitalize.
Junior third-baseman Ryan Zimmerman infused the crowd with a burst of energy in the sixth inning by leading off with a double down the left-field line. Right-fielder Sean Doolittle, who also pitched an inning of solid relief later in the game, moved Zimmerman to third base with a dribbler back to the pitcher that effectively served as a swinging sacrifice bunt.
Designated hitter Ryan Hudson followed with another groundball to Riordan, who checked Zimmerman at third before retiring Hudson at first. Freshman first-baseman Brandon Guyer dug into the batter's box and hit a groundball to the third baseman. Guyer hustled down the line and barely beat the throw from Matt Lovetere. Zimmerman scored on the play and Fordham head coach Nick Restaino exploded out of the dugout to argue to no avail with the first base umpire.
The inning ended with Guyer getting gunned down at second by Mollicone during a steal attempt.
Freshman right-hander Thomas Davis entered the game in relief for the Rams in the seventh inning. He worked his way out of a scoring threat in the seventh before retiring the Cavaliers in order in the eighth.
Davis returned to the mound in the ninth, and Virginia did not lose quietly. Center-fielder Matt Street drove in catcher Scott Headd with a sacrifice fly to left. With runners on first and second with two outs, sophomore Tim Henry, who had replaced an injured Tom Hagans earlier in the game, stepped to the plate. A base-hit would have tied the game, but Henry hit a sharp groundball back to Davis and was thrown out at first base to end the game.
The Cavaliers travel to the University of Richmond Tuesday for their last match-up before next weekend's trip to Wake Forest to commence conference play.
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