#13 Virginia Shuts Out Old Dominion
Virginia welcomed Old Dominion to Disharoon Park for the first of three regular season meetings between the two in-state rivals. The pitching staff, which showed concerns throughout Opening Weekend against Hofstra, was lights out today as they pitched a combined shutout and held the Monarchs to just 4 hits. Cullen McKay, who started on the mound, was particularly impressive.
The offense was sparked by Harrison Didawick's third home run of the year, a solo shot to right, in the second inning, The lineup proceeded to grind out 3 runs in the first five innings before breaking it open in the 6th. Eric Becker got his first collegiate hit with a two run single in the 6th, while Griff O'Ferrall drove in another run with a single to center field. It was business as usual for Virginia as they won 8-0. The 'Hoos will now head south to Jacksonville where they'll take part in the Jacksonville College Baseball Classic against Wichita State, #15 Iowa, and #21 Auburn.
Key Pitching Lines
Cullen McKay- 4.1 IP | 0 ER | 2 H | 5 K | 3 BB | 80 pitches
Kevin Jaxel- 1.2 IP | 0 ER | 1 H | 2 K | 2 BB | 33 pitches
Top Performers
CF Harrison Didawick (So) 2-4, 2B, HR (3), 2 RBI
SS Griff O'Ferrall (Jr) 2-5, RBI
3B Eric Becker (Fr) 1-2, 2 RBI
2B Henry Godbout (So) 1-3, 2B
Louisville Crushed by Xavier in Home Opener
Louisville ace Carson Liggett made the midweek start after not having a chance to pitch on Opening Weekend due to weather. The junior righty was not as sharp as we've seen him be and ended up giving up three unearned runs on seven hits through 2.2 innings. The offense never got going outside of a JT Benson RBI double and the bullpen continued their struggles from their opening games on Friday. Xavier, who was swept by Clemson over the weekend and managed just 13 hits in those three games, managed 15 hits today and beat the Louisville Cardinals 9-1.
The Cards are 0-3 and will look to get back on track this weekend against St. Bonaventure at home.
Key Pitching Lines
Carson Liggett: 2.2 IP | 3 ER | 7 H | 2 K | 1 BB | 55 pitches
Kaleb Corbett: 2.1 IP | 2 ER | 3 H | 1 K | 0 BB | 32 pitches
Top Performers
DH JT Benson (Sr) 2-4 2B, RBI
C Luke Napleton (Sr) 2-4
LF Lucas Moore (Fr) 1-4
James Madison Walks Off Virginia Tech
Trailing 6-1 after five innings in Harrisonburg at JMU, the Hokies rallied thanks to their star third baseman Carson DeMartini. After driving a run back in the 5th inning to get Tech on the board, the junior slugger hit his second home of the season to get the Hokies back within two runs at 6-4. Chris Cannizzarro continued his hot start to the season by doubling in the next at bat before scoring on a Garret Michel double to cut the deficit to just one run through 7 innings. In the 8th, sophomore shortstop Clay Grady singled in a run to tie the game 7-7, then DeMartini delivered again with a sac fly to center field to give the Hokies the lead 8-7.
It was an impressive comeback but unfortunately, the bullpen couldn't hold the Dukes back. JMU loaded the bases and promptly tied the game, before Jacob Stretch came in and stranded the runners. Unable to generate any offense in the Top of the 9th, JMU loaded the bases again and Coleman Calabrese singled to right to win the game for the Dukes and send the Hokies home.
Virginia Tech is now 2-2 on the season and will host Rhode Island for their first games in Blacksburg this year.
Key Pitching Lines
Madden Clement 1.2 IP | 4 ER | 3 H | 0 K | 2 BB | 37 pitches
Brady Kirtner 2.0 IP | 0 ER | 2 H | 2 K | 0 BB | 24 pitches
Top Performers
3B Carson DeMartini (Jr) 2-4, HR (2), 4 RBI
LF Chris Cannizzarro (Gr) 2-4, 2 2B
DH Eddie Micheletti (Sr) 1-3, HR (1), 1 RBI
C Henry Cooke (So) 3 -3, 2B
#10 Duke Handles Liberty in Home Opener
Liberty struck first in the 2nd inning but managed just 3 hits and one walk against the vaunted Duke pitching staff. Despite the score line, the game never really felt close as the combination of Tim Noone, Gabriel Nard, Kyle Johnson, Jimmy Romano, and Charlie Beilenson never seemed to be in danger. Noone started the game and gave up two doubles that scored the Flames' lone run, but other than the graduate transfer from Babson College was outstanding. Charlie Beilenson got his third save of the year with an easy 1-2-3 9th inning to seal the 4-2 win.
Duke didn't add any home runs to their impressive start to the season total, but the usual suspects were getting on base and causing problems. Harvard transfer Logan Bravo checked in with his third multi-hit game of the year as his third inning single drove in two runs and gave Duke a lead they would not relinquish. The Blue Devils only won by two runs, but it might as well have been five or more with the way they were pitching. They'll host Northwestern this weekend at home.
Key Pitching Lines
Tim Noone 3.0 IP | 1 ER | 2 H | 4 K | 0 BB | 41 pitches
Gabriel Nard 2.0 IP | 0 ER | 0 H | 3 K | 0 BB | 29 pitches
Top Performers
1B Logan Bravo (Gr) 2-4, 2 RBI
2B Zac Morris (Sr) 2-4, RBI
3B Ben Miller (Gr) 1-3, 2B, RBI
Miami Falls to Central Florida
After an impressive Opening Weekend sweep of NJIT, Miami welcomed in-state rival Central Florida to Coral Gables. The Canes got things going early thanks to Edgardo Villagas and Daniel Cuvet drawing walks. With two outs and the runners on second and third, Dorian Gonzalez singled past the second baseman to make it 2-0 Miami. In the 3rd, Lorenzo Carrier would drive in Cuvet from first with a missile double off the wall in left center.
But the Golden Knights surged back and chased starter Ben Chestnutt from the game with a three run 4th inning to take the lead. And that's when both offenses went cold. The two teams combined for just two hits in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th innings as UCF clung to the 4-3 lead. Hurricanes freshman pitcher Jordan Vargas was sensational, as the only hit he gave up over 4 innings of relief was a sky high pop up that the infield failed to catch in the 8th inning. After a wild pitch strikeout that allowed Edgardo Villegas to reach first, former Wake Forest outfielder Lucas Costello singled through the infield to put runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the 9th.
True freshman Daniel Cuvet, who has been incredible to start the season, then grounded into a game ending 6-4-3 double play. UCF held on to win, 4-3 as Miami drops their first game of the season.
Key Pitching Lines
Ben Chestnutt 3.2 IP | 4 ER | 5 H | 5 K | 2 BB | 65 pitches
Jordan Vargas 4.0 IP | 0 ER | 1 H | 3 K | 1 BB | 49 pitches
Top Performers
DH Daniel Cuvet (Fr) 1-4, 2 R
LF Lorenzo Carrier (R-So) 1-3, 2B, RBI
3B Dorian Gonzalez (Jr) 1-4, 2 RBI
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