Baseball: No. 19 Virginia takes two against Columbia

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Posted on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, 11:58 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

No. 19 Virginia remained unbeaten thanks to a doubleheader sweep of Columbia on Friday at Disharoon Park. The Cavaliers won game one, 4-1, and took game two by a score of 11-3. The three-game series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Cavalier pitching combined to strike out 29 batters in two games. Graduate student Nick Parker and Jake Berry fanned a combined 12 batters in game one. Five pitchers, led by starter Brian Edgington who had nine, combined for a season-high 17 strikeouts in game two.

Freshman Henry Godbout had his best game of his young Cavalier career with a four-RBI effort in the second game. UVA (6-0) received multi-hit efforts from Ethan Anderson, who went 2 for 4 in game one, and Ethan O’Donnell, who went 2 for 4 with a double in game two.

GAME 1 – VIRGINIA 4, COLUMBIA 1

Parker earned his second victory of the season after allowing one run over six innings of work. He retired the last 10 batters he faced and struck out six. Dating back to last season at Coastal Carolina, the righthander has picked up the win in his last five starts.

Berry was equally as dominant taking over the pitching duties in the seventh. The junior lefty pitched three hitless innings and allowed only one baserunner, a walk in the eighth. He also struck out six and was credited with his first career save. In two relief appearances this season he has pitched six innings, allowed one hit and struck out nine batters.

Kyle Teel provided the early offense with his second home run of the year, a solo shot in the second inning. Teel has 17 career home runs to his credit.

The Cavaliers scored an unearned run in the third on a Griff O’Ferrall sacrifice fly. UVA tacked on two more runs in the seventh, one on a Columbia throwing error and a sac fly off the bat of Justin Rubin.

GAME 2 – VIRGINIA 11, COLUMBIA 3

Virginia fell behind for the first time this season after Cole Hage led the game off with a solo home run to right center field to put Columbia (0-2) ahead, 1-0.

The Cavaliers regained the lead for good on a three-run homer by Godbout in the bottom of the second. Getting the start at second base, the Cavalier nine-hole hitter won an eight-pitch battle and skied a ball over the right field wall. Godbout went 3 for 4 with three runs scored, a home run and four RBI in game two.

Virginia added three more runs in the third inning to open up a 6-1 advantage. Teel picked up his second RBI of the day on a double to left that scored Jake Gelof. Anderson followed up with a two-run single up the middle that scored Casey Saucke and Teel.

Virginia blew the game open in the sixth with a four-run frame. Four-straight hits to left field by Godbout (double), O’Ferrall (double), O’Donnell (double) and Gelof (single) made it 9-2. Casey Saucke capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to right that plated O’Donnell.

The Virginia bullpen allowed one run over the final four innings of the game. Graduate student Angelo Tonas struck out three of the five batters he faced in the sixth and surrendered an unearned run. Evan Blanco retired three of the four batters he faced in his second appearance in a Cavalier uniform. Righthander Jay Woolfok sealed the doubleheader sweep with a perfect ninth inning that included two strikeouts.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • UVA held scoreless in the first inning of both contests, the first time UVA has scored in their first turns at the plate this season.
  • The starting pitcher of all six games for UVA has earned the win. Parker and Edgington each have two wins in two weekend starts.
  • UVA trailed for the first time after a leadoff home run in the first inning by Cole Hage in game two. The lead only lasted an inning thanks to Godbout’s homer in the bottom of the second.
  • Friday was the first time UVA and Columbia have met since 1926. UVA improved to 8-1 all-time against the Lions.
  • Virginia is 6-0 to start the season for the second-straight season and the seventh time under head coach Brian O’Connor.
  • Virginia has recorded double-digit runs in all but one game this season.

UP NEXT

Virginia and Columbia will conclude the series on Sunday. The Cavaliers will have RHP Jack O’Connor (1-0) on the mound and he will be opposed by Columbia righty Joe Sheets. First pitch on ACCNX is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday is Youth Day at Disharoon Park. All youth, ages 18 and under, receive free admission with the purchase of at least one adult general admission ticket while supplies last.