Baseball: No. 13 Cavaliers score seven unanswered in 7-4 win against Liberty

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

No. 13 Virginia overcame a three-run, sixth inning deficit by scoring the game’s final seven runs in a 7-4 win over Liberty on Tuesday at Disharoon Park. The Cavaliers completed the midweek series sweep of the Flames (19-21) and improve to 24-0 at home this season.

Virginia (33-9) trailed 4-1 after six innings but went on to score seven times in its final turns at the plate, including a five-run outburst in the seventh to complete the comeback. UVA had lost its previous 24 games when trailing after six innings dating back to last season.

Freshman Evan Blanco was credited with his first collegiate win after recording six outs between the sixth and eighth innings. He struck out five of the six batters he faced. Jay Woolfolk recorded his sixth save of the season by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Liberty starting pitcher Trey Cooper (3.0 IP) and Ryan Butler (2.0 IP) combined to pitch the five perfect innings before the Cavaliers finally broke through with a leadoff double by Anthony Stephan in the sixth off of reliever David Erickson.
• Trailing 4-0, the Cavaliers got on the scoreboard on a two-out, infield single by Griff O’Ferrall that allowed Stephan to score from third.
• The Cavaliers sent nine batters to the plate in the seventh to take the lead for good. With the bases loaded, Stephan worked a seven-pitch, bases loaded walk to cut the Liberty lead in half. The next batter, freshman Henry Godbout, tied the game at four with a two-RBI single up the middle.
• O’Ferrall put UVA in front for good with his second two-out hit, a sharp ground ball to third that tipped off the outstretched glove of the Liberty third baseman and allowed UVA runners on second and third to come across.
• The Cavaliers added an insurance run in the eighth on Stephan’s second double of the night that plated Jake Gelof from third base. Stephan was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI in the contest.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Virginia has won 25-straight non-conference games dating back to last season, the longest non-conference winning streak in the country.
• UVA is the only team in the nation without a non-conference loss this season and improved to 21-0 against non-ACC opponents.
• UVA is 24-2 at home this season, tied for the third most home wins in college baseball.
• The Cavaliers win the season midweek series against Liberty for the first time since 2017.
• UVA is 43-22-1 all-time against the Flames and have won 14 of the last 16 matchups.
• Virginia pitchers in the contest – Connelly Early (7), Blanco (5), Woolfolk (1) – combined for 14 strikeouts, the sixth time this season UVA has totaled 14 or more strikeouts in a game.
• The come-from-behind victory was UVA’s 11th of the season.

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers are back at it on Wednesday with a non-conference tilt against Towson at Disharoon Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ACCNX.