After cruising to 15 victories to open the season, the Virginia baseball team finally had a near miss, against the most unlikely of teams.
In a midweek battle against Marshall at Davenport Field, the Cavaliers trailed 3-0 through five innings before rallying for five runs in the sixth and the seventh, which included Marshall balking home the winning run en route to a 5-4 Virginia victory. With the close win, the No. 7 Cavaliers survived as the only remaining undefeated team in the nation.
The Cavaliers (16-0, 4-0 ACC) finally broke through in the seventh inning after trailing 4-1, thanks to a timely hit and some mistakes by Marshall (7-9) on the mound. Marshall’s starting pitcher, freshman Greg Williams, allowed two hits and got just one out through the first three batters faced that inning, forcing Marshall coach Jeff Waggoner to go to his bullpen. Entering reliever sophomore Arik Sikula then hit his first batter and struck out another, before he was relieved by senior Andrew Blain, who walked home a run and gave up a two-run single to junior Tyler Cannon, knotting the game at four runs apiece. Marshall then looked to sophomore Ian Kadish to keep the score tied, but Kadish walked the bases loaded and then balked home a run before retiring the side.
Virginia could not figure out the lefthander Williams to start the game, as he allowed no runs and only one hit through the first five innings of work. On the Cavaliers’ side, freshman Will Roberts faced the brunt of Marshall’s offensive attack, making a relief appearance in the fourth and allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits.
Junior Matt Packer, usually the Cavaliers’ closer, came in for Roberts in the fifth and allowed one run on three hits in three innings as Virginia retook the lead, earning his first win of the season. Sophomore Kevin Arico earned his first career save with two scoreless innings to secure the close win.
Usual weekend starter Andrew Carraway also got some work on the mound after the weekend game he was scheduled to start against Florida State was cancelled; the senior started and threw three scoreless innings before he was relieved by Roberts.
Virginia retakes Davenport Field tomorrow for a doubleheader against Canisius and Wagner.
—compiled by Paul Montana
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