Wahoos Come Up Empty in MLB4 Tournament

Courtesy UVA Sports Media Relations

No. 24 Cal State Fullerton erased a 5-3, ninth-inning deficit by scoring three runs in their final turn at the plate in a 6-5 victory over Virginia in the finale of the MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament at Salt River Fields. The late inning lead was the only time the Titans led all evening.

Fullerton’s Daniel Cope was credited with the go-ahead RBI on a slow chopper with the bases loaded, fielded deep in the hole by Cavalier shortstop Tanner Morris. The Titans (2-1) were able to tie the game two batters earlier on a sacrifice fly to left field. The relay throw from Cayman Richardson and Zack Gelof was in time at the plate by Fullerton’s Jacob Pavletich slid under the tag to make the score 5-5.

Cavalier starting pitcher Noah Murdock took the tough luck no-decision after turning in his fifth career quality start and first since the 2017 season. Murdock sat down the first eight batters he faced, including three-straight strikeouts between the second and third innings. He pitched six innings, gave up three earned runs and struck out five batters.

At the plate, Morris went 3 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. The second-year gave the Cavaliers (0-3) their first lead of the weekend, scoring from third base on an errant throw by Fullerton second baseman Hank LaForte in the bottom of the first inning. He later singled home Nic Kent to cap a three-run fourth inning for the Cavaliers.

The 4-0 Cavalier lead was short lived as the Titans responded with three runs of their own in the top of the fifth to pull within a run. Senior Jack Weiller provided the Cavaliers with some insurance in the bottom half of the seventh inning with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly that scored Brendan Rivoli to make the score 5-3.

Rivoli finished the night 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored and is now 5 for 13 in his first three games of the 2019 season. Reliever Kyle Whitten worked a scoreless seventh inning, allowing a hit and recording a strikeout. He was credited with the hold.

Cameron Comer and Nate Eikhoff each doubled in the contest, recording their first extra-base hits on the year. Virginia left a weekend-high, 14 runners on base and stranded seven runners in scoring position.

On Saturday, No. 17 TCU scored the first seven runs and never looked back in an 9-4 victory over the Wahoos.

Making his collegiate debut, Virginia starting pitcher Mike Vasil worked two clean innings in which he fanned three batters before TCU broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. The Horned Frogs 1-2 batters, Porter Brown and Josh Watson, each plated a run with RBI doubles to highlight the three-run inning. Brown and Watson finished the night with four hits apiece.

In what turned into be a four-run fourth inning, also spelled the end for Vasil who gave way to junior Paul Kosanovich with two outs in the inning. Kosanovich worked the next 4.1 innings allowed, three earned runs and struck out three batters.

The Cavaliers got on the scoreboard with a three-run fifth inning. The first three Cavalier batters walked before Jack Dragum scored on a wild pitch. Two hitters later, Rivoli delivered a two-out single that scored a pair of runs and pulled Virginia within four runs.

Virginia found itself down 9-3 after a TCU insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning and put three runners on in the top of the ninth. A Horned Frog fielding error allowed pinch-runner Drew Hamrock to score all the way from first base but the threat was ended when Marcelo Perez struck out the final batter of the game.

Senior Cameron Simmons went 2 for 5 with a pair of singles while Morris went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Making his first start behind the dish, Logan Michaels threw out a runner attempting to steal in the fourth. Virginia catchers have caught three runners attempting to steal in the first two games.

Dragum made his first collegiate start at second base making several key defensive plays including a double play in the first inning. He walked and scored one of the four Cavalier runs. Vasil, Dragum and Hamrock all made their collegiate debuts in the contest. Kosanovich, a junior college transfer made his first appearance in a Virginia uniform against TCU.

The Cavaliers return to Disharoon Park on Wednesday for the home opener against VMI. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.