Some games are just plain mismatches. Such was the case Tuesday when the Virginia baseball team welcomed the Norfolk State Spartans to Davenport Field. The Cavaliers re-ignited their dormant offensive stroke and pounded the Spartans 13-1 in front of a sparse crowd on a gray day in Charlottesville. Virginia (22-11, 5-8 ACC) feasted on the pitching of three different Norfolk State hurlers sending the Spartans back to Norfolk with a dismal 9-28 record.
Freshman right-hander Robert Poutier pitched exceptionally well for the Cavaliers, toeing the rubber for six innings of two-hit, shut-out baseball. He improved his record to 2-1 on the year and lowered his already superb ERA to a phenomenal 0.30 mark.
"He pitched another great outing for us," head coach Brian O'Connor said. "He's been great all year. This was another experience for him to go out, mature and develop. He'll continue to get better."
In what was a welcome sight for Cavalier fans, junior Tom Hagan returned to the Virginia lineup for the first time since he injured his hand Feb. 27 in a 3-2 loss to the Fordham Rams. In his first at-bat, Hagan hit a single through the right side of the infield, driving in Josh Darby, who also recently returned from an early season injury.
"I was just trying not to think about my hand," Hagan said of his mindset during the at-bat.
Earlier in the second inning, freshman Brandon Guyer tripled and was driven in by a single off the bat of Darby. Second baseman Kyle Werman drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to the right-fielder, and center-fielder Tim Henry singled to score Hagan as the Cavaliers hung a four spot on the scoreboard in the second inning.
The Cavaliers' large lead enabled O'Connor to give many of his reserve players some playing time. Senior right-hander Adam Laird came out of the bullpen for his second appearance of the year. In the eighth, Laird retired the side in order, striking out one. Freshman right-hander Jordan Ellis made his first appearance in a Virginia uniform in the ninth inning, securing the blowout victory for the Cavaliers. Freshman Ryan Ouellette also pitched an inning of solid relief.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, reserve first baseman and former Virginia quarterback, Anthony Martinez jacked an absolute moon shot that cleared the scoreboard in left-center field. The home run gave Virginia a 13-0 lead. Martinez's teammates were shocked by the monstrous blast.
"We were in silence for five minutes," Hagan said.
Virginia's leading hitter, Ryan Zimmerman, went two for three and scored twice before being replaced by junior Mike Campagna at shortstop. Zimmerman normally starts at third base but has the versatility to start at both positions.
"I wanted to get Brandon Guyer some experience at third base," O'Connor said. "With Tom Hagan coming back to left-field, this was a way of keeping Brandon Guyer, who has been playing left-field, in the lineup."
The Cavaliers have a doubleheader scheduled today against U.Md.-Eastern Shore, which like Norfolk State, is in the MEAC conference. The first game will be a nine-inning affair while the second game will last only seven innings.
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