Baseball: Virginia sets new HR record in 18-5 thumping of GW

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

No. 10 Virginia hit six home runs in a 18-5 seven-inning, run-rule victory over George Washington on Wednesday, its first game action after breaking for final exams a week ago. The Cavaliers surpassed the program’s single-season home run record for the third-consecutive season.

Coming into the contest, Virginia (36-12) needed two home runs to break last year’s mark of 83 and had established the new record in just three innings into the contest. Ethan Anderson, the second batter of the game for UVA left the yard for UVA’s 83 homer of the season. Anthony Stephan hit UVA’s record-breaking homer in the third inning, a two-run shot in the third.

The Cavaliers scored 15 of the first 16 runs of the contest and racked up 20 hits, the third 20-hit performance of the season. Every Cavalier in the lineup recorded a hit. Henry Godbout led the way with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate and scored three runs. Griff O’Ferrall and Stephan each put together three-hit efforts.

In a contest that say 10 Cavalier pitchers make an appearance, Jay Woolfolk was credited with the win after retiring all five batters he faced, including one strikeout.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Two batters into the game, Anderson put UVA in front with a two-run homer. The play was initially ruled a double but replay review revealed the ball hit above the yellow line in center. The home run was Anderson’s fifth of the year.

Virginia erupted for seven runs in the third inning that including home runs from Stephan and freshman Eric Becker. Including his walk-off homer against Navy last Wednesday, it was Stephan’s second homer in his last three at bats. Becker upped his home run total to five on the year.

Harrison Didawick tallied home run No. 18 with a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Didawick is tied with Jon Benick for the fourth-most in a single-season in program history.

Virginia tacked on three runs in the sixth inning two coming on solo homers by pinch-hitter Aidan Teel and Bobby Whalen. Three of Teel’s four hits on the season have left the ballpark. The home run for Whalen was his second of the year.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The seven-run third inning was the 18th time UVA has scored five or more runs in an inning.
• O’Ferrall stole a career-high three bases and now has 48 in his career, tied with Phil Gosselin (2008-10) for the ninth-most in UVA history. With his three hits in the contest, O’Ferrall also matched Ryan Zimmerman with his 250th career hit, tied for eighth most in program history.
• Virginia finishes non-conference play with a 22-2 mark.
• After exam break in the Brian O’Connor era (2004-present), UVA is 17-2 against non-conference opponents.
• The Cavaliers have won 29-straight home midweek contests.
• UVA improves to 31-12 against George Washington (26-22), and has won 16-straight games against the Revolutionaries.

UP NEXT

The final six games of the regular season will take place at Disharoon Park beginning with a three-game series against No. 23 NC State this weekend. The series opener is set for Friday at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Network.