Baseball: O’Connor wins 800th game as UVA sweeps Rhode Island, 16-6

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Head coach Brian O’Connor won his 800th career game as No. 19 Virginia completed the series sweep of Rhode Island with a 16-6 victory on Sunday at Disharoon Park. O’Connor is the eighth coach in ACC history to reach 800 wins at an ACC school.

O’Connor, now in his 20th season at the helm of the Virginia baseball program, sports an 800-338-2 career mark. His .703 career winning percentage is the second highest among active NCAA DI coaches (min. 10 years). He has Virginia off to its second-straight 11-0 start to the season and fifth since taking over the program in 2004.

Catcher Kyle Teel capped off an incredible weekend at the plate, with a 4-for-5, two-double, two-RBI day. He finished the series 10 for 13 (.769) with two doubles, eight runs scored and six RBI. Jake Gelof moved into sole possession of sixth place all-time on UVA’s career home run list with a solo shot in the eighth inning, his 29th of his career.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rhode Island (3-6) held the lead for a half inning thanks to a lead-off home run by Mark Coley in the top of the first. It took UVA five batters in its half of the inning to go in front for good. The Cavaliers recaptured the lead on back-to-back, two-out hits by Casey Saucke and Ethan Anderson to go up 3-1 after one inning.
• Virginia tacked on four more runs in their third turn at the plate and posted five runs in the fourth inning. Four of the nine runs in the frame scored with two outs including a bases-clearing double by Harrison Didawick in the fourth to put the Cavaliers up 12-2.
• Teel highlighted a three-run frame in the seventh with a RBI double to left center, his second double of the afternoon.
• Gelof put the finishing touches on UVA’s 16-hit afternoon with his fourth home run of the spring. Gelof went 3 for 4 with a home run, three runs scored and four RBI in the contest.
• Starting pitcher Jack O’Connor pitched the first 4.2 innings before Angleo Tonas took over in the fifth. Tonas got the next five outs and was credited with the win.
• Relievers Jacob Hodorovich, Jake Berry and Jay Woolfolk combined to pitch the final 3.1 innings without allowing a URI run.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Virginia has scored 21 runs in the first inning this season, including 10 in the series against Rhode Island.
• The Cavaliers outscored URI 42-12 in the three-game weekend series. It was UVA’s sixth time scoring double-digit runs this season.
• UVA is 13-0 all-time against the Rams. Rhode Island is the first of four A-10 opponents for UVA this season (George Washington, Richmond and VCU).
• Virginia has started 11-0 five times – 2008, 2009, 2013, 2022 & 2023.
• The Cavaliers have won 13-straight games against non-conference opponents at Disharoon Park.
• Virginia is one of five teams that remain unbeaten in college baseball – Alabama, NC State, Troy and Wake Forest.

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers close out their nine-game homestand on Tuesday when they host William & Mary at Disharoon Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The midweek matchup will feature $3 Tacos at the concession stands and marks UVA’s Faculty/Staff Appreciation game.