CLEMSON, S.C. -- After dropping the first two games of this weekend's series at Clemson, the Virginia Cavaliers were in need of a morale boost. Sunday, they got just that. Virginia's blueprint for success finally worked against an excellent ACC opponent as the Cavaliers (25-13, 6-10 ACC) defeated the Tigers (21-14, 11-4 ACC), 9-2, with stellar defense, timely hitting and superb pitching.
"We were able to get lead-off runners on, steal bases and get them in," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "Today was probably one of our best offensive days. We executed, got clutch hits and there was overall great offensive production from everybody."
Senior right-hander Jeff Kamrath pitched six quality innings, limiting the Tigers to two runs on five hits. Freshman Sean Doolittle added two innings of relief before yielding to Casey Lambert, who put the final touches on Virginia's win.
In the top of the second, Doolittle blasted his team-leading eighth homerun of the year. The solo shot cleared the barbeque pavilion that is perched behind the right-field fence in Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
"That was a rush," Doolittle said. "I got the pitch I was looking for, and to hit it like I did was just awesome."
Left-fielder Brandon Guyer then was hit on the foot. Guyer later scored on shortstop Mike Campagna's two-out bloop single to right. Campagna finished the day 3-4 with one RBI.
A terrific Virginia defensive play kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Clemson freshman Brad Chalk lined a ball to the gap in right-center field. Virginia center-fielder Tim Henry chased the ball down and threw it in to relay man Kyle Werman. Werman turned and nailed Casanova, who had led off the inning with a single, at the plate.
In the top of the fourth, Virginia added to its lead on a freak play. Guyer, who had walked, was attempting to steal second when Casanova's throw deflected off of his helmet into left-center field. Guyer got up and raced home to score his second run of the day and put the Cavaliers up 3-0.
The Cavaliers bought some insurance in the top of the sixth inning by scoring two runs. Right-fielder Matt Street led off the inning with a single and moved to third base on Ryan Zimmerman's line drive single to left-center. Doolittle followed with a ground ball to the second baseman that scored Street. Rohrbaugh then walked Guyer and Hagan before surrendering a run on Bernstine's soft groundball to the shortstop.
Clemson coach Jack Leggett was ejected in the bottom of the sixth inning for vehemently arguing with the first base umpire. After Chalk was called out at first on a close play, Leggett exploded across the diamond as if it were Lou Pinella night at the local karaoke bar.
Senior second baseman Kyle Werman led off the seventh inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield off the bat of Street. The Cavaliers piled on three runs in the top of the ninth to put a final nail in Clemson's coffin. Doolittle accumulated his third RBI of the day on a single that drove in Street.
"This win shows the character of our team," O'Connor said. "A lot of teams in this country would quit if they came here and lost the first couple of ballgames. These kids didn't quit, and they played hard. They showed a lot of resolve"
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