Virginia took down Richmond Tuesday afternoon at Disharoon Park, shutting out the Spiders (5-3, 0-0 A-10) with seven runs while putting on an impressive performance on the mound through nine innings. Junior right-hander Zach Messinger picked up the win for the Cavaliers (7-5, 2-4 ACC), going three innings and allowing no hits as Richmond couldn’t find its offensive groove.
Virginia opened the game strong with a single through the left side by junior shortstop Nic Kent. Kent rounded the bases to third on a bunt and subsequent ground out by sophomore second-baseman Max Cotier and junior third-baseman Zack Gelof, respectively. With two outs, senior left fielder Brendan Rivoli came up big with a single through the left side to knock in the first run of the game. Graduate catcher Logan Michaels opened up the opportunity for a second run with a single to center field, allowing Rivoli to advance two bases to third, and another single by freshman designated hitter Kyle Teel drove in Rivoli to put Virginia ahead 2-0 to start the afternoon.
Both teams remained scoreless through the next pair of innings, but the Cavaliers edged the Spiders 6-2 in hits in the first three and added a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Sophomore center fielder Chris Newell hit a triple to right center, and senior right fielder Marc Lebreux picked up the RBI, scoring Newell with a follow-up single. In the fifth, Virginia added to the lead as Gelof reached first on a fielding error to start the inning. After stealing second base, Gelof scored an unearned run off a single up the middle by Teel, pushing the score to 4-0.
The Cavaliers took advantage of the Spiders' difficulties finding the zone in the seventh inning to extend their lead to seven runs despite producing no hits. Cotier worked a 3-1 count to a walk, and Gelof took a free base in the next at-bat in a hit-by-pitch, moving Cotier into scoring position with no outs. Graduate pitcher Eli Kimbell walked the next pair of batters, Rivoli and Michaels, allowing Cotier to advance home — after a tough go on the mound, the right-hander was replaced by redshirt freshman Alden Mathes.
Mathes similarly got off to a rough start as he came in for relief in the seventh, allowing Gelof to score immediately on a wild pitch and subsequently walking both Teel and senior first-baseman Devin Ortiz to load the bases again. Newell placed a fly ball deep enough into left to allow Michaels to tag and score the third run of the inning, pushing the lead to a comfortable 7-0.
With just four hits on the afternoon, the Spiders couldn’t come up with a single run against the Virginia pitching staff. The shutout was Richmond’s first since April 2019.
The Cavaliers continue their homestand this weekend against Notre Dame, opening the series Friday at Disharoon Park. The conference matchup is set for 3:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
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