Yesterday afternoon the Virginia baseball team added another win against William & Mary to this season's perfect home record, beating the Tribe by a final score of 17-2. William & Mary dropped to 1-6 while the Cavaliers improved to 6-1 overall.
"The one thing about playing five consecutive days and eight games in nine days is the team gets a chance to get into a groove," Virginia coach Brian O'Conner said. "Baseball is a game that is meant to be played every day, and this stretch is allowing us to get a lot of confidence. The thing I am most proud of today is the zero in the final column. To play errorless ball is a sign of a business-like attitude. You need to play the game the right way, no matter the score."
Virginia scored in each inning, and accumulated 17 runs on 16 hits. Sophomore Greg Miclat, senior Sean Doolittle and sophomore Brandon Guyer set the pace for Virginia as each had three hits. Sophomore David Adams hit an inside-the-park home run, joining Doolittle with five runs batted in. Freshman Jeff Lorick notched the win in his first career start, allowing two runs on five hits after five innings of work.
"The offense playing like this makes the pitcher's job a thousand times easier," Lorick said. "I can't say enough [about] how well the guys are swinging."
Junior Jake Rule, senior Alex Smith, sophomore Andrew Carraway and senior Casey Lambert combined to pitch four innings, striking out a total of seven and allowing just one hit.
"Once the game starts you don't get caught up in facing the old team, or Georgia Tech, Clemson or someplace like that," Rule said.
Tribe starter Tyler Truxell allowed nine runs, seven of which were earned on eight hits in four innings of work. In the bottom of the first, Miclat started the Cavaliers' offense with a single. Senior Brandon Marsh was then hit by a pitch. Both Marsh and Miclat later scored on a double from Doolittle.
"Greg's a different player this year," O'Connor said of Miclat. "As great as he was last year as a true freshman, he is physically stronger now, and that's made the difference in his at bats."
The Tribe saw the majority of its offensive action in the top of the second when they put one run across the plate.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Marsh was hit by a pitch. After Doolittle walked, Adams' RBI double brought home both Marsh and Doolittle. Sophomore Jeremy Farrell's double scored Adams later in the inning. In the fourth inning, Virginia bagged another run when Guyer hit a one-out double and scored on an error.
William & Mary earned its second and final run in the top of the fifth. The Tribe's Robbie Nickle drew a two-out walk and stole second. He scored on Sheridan's RBI single.
The Cavaliers increased their lead to 11 after scoring four times in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Senior Mike Mitchell drew a leadoff walk. Miclat then walked and Marsh was hit by another pitch to load the bases. Mitchell scored on Doolittle's sacrifice fly to right field. Adams followed that by knocking a three-run, inside-the-park home run when he hit the ball into the gap in left-centerfield.
The Cavaliers will face off today against Coppin State's 12-man roster at Davenport Field. The starting pitchers for both squads are yet to be determined.
Read More
With much-needed win over Miami, men’s basketball ends road losing streak
By Emory Huffman | 6 hours agoIt was another battle of the bottom, and Virginia proved it is at least above the conference's floor.
Men’s and women’s squash find success at CSA Individual Championships
By Peter Kratz | 7 hours agoIn individual competition, the Cavaliers excelled.
Virginia baseball has an ace up its sleeve and in its bullpen — Dean Kampschror
By Xander Tilock | YesterdayThe senior pitcher is exactly what the Cavaliers need to succeed in 2025.
