Following a break from finals season, No. 24 Virginia baseball took two-out-of-three against Duke in their penultimate conference series.
Sophomore Connor Jones worked around baserunners all evening to set up a 3-1 victory in Friday’s game. Jones ground through seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits and six walks.
The Cavaliers (29-19, 12-15 ACC) broke a 1-1 deadlock with two runs in the eighth inning. Sophomore Daniel Pinero reached base on an error and came around to score on a double by fellow-sophomore Matt Thaiss, who later scored on a single by freshman Adam Haseley.
The Blue Devils (28-21, 8-18 ACC) scored six runs in the ninth against sophomore Alec Bettinger to earn the 9-7 come-from-behind victory Saturday.
Tied 3-3 after three innings, Virginia scored twice in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run Thaiss double. The Cavaliers tacked on two more in the seventh on RBI singles by freshman Pavin Smith and junior Joe McCarthy.
Duke sent 10 runners to the plate in the six-run ninth. Junior Kevin Doherty began the inning on the mound, but allowed a run without recording an out. Bettinger then entered the game and allowed four runs on three hits while retiring only one batter. Junior David Rosenberger surrendered one more run in closing out the frame.
Junior Josh Sborz pitched the Cavaliers to a 4-2 victory in Sunday’s rubber match. The righty worked seven one-run innings, while allowing eight hits and one walk, to earn his second win on the year.
Prior to first pitch, seniors Kenny Towns, Thomas Woodruff and Kevin Radford were honored for their contributions to the program.
Doherty put Virginia ahead with a two-out, two-run single in the second inning. Smith drew a bases-loaded walk in the third to tack on one more run.
Haseley pitched the final two innings for his first career save.
The Cavaliers play Richmond Tuesday in the final home game of the season. They close out the conference slate with a three-game series against North Carolina. A sweep of the Tar Heels would give Virginia a .500 ACC record.
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