Hokies even Commonwealth Clash series with 5-4 win over Hoos

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

In a game that was delayed nearly three hours due to monsoonal moisture, the Virginia baseball team dropped a 5-4 decision to Virginia Tech at English Field on Friday.

UVA reliever Evan Blanco was dealt the loss after allowing a pinch-hit solo home run to Virginia Tech’s David Lewis in the sixth, which proved to be the difference in the contest.

Offensively for the Cavaliers (31-17, 15-11 ACC), the duo of Eric Becker and James Nunnallee each collected a pair of hits in the game, while Henry Ford hit his 10th home run of the season to tie for the team lead.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

After a quiet top of the first for the Cavaliers, the homestanding Hokies (30-23, 12-17) struck first in the opening frame with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and an RBI single that made it an early 2-0 contest.

A scoreless second inning gave way to a third frame where each team plated a pair of runs. UVA tied the game at 2-2 with a Ford two-run home run that scored Becker, who reached when he was hit by a pitch.

Virginia Tech regained the lead with two runs of their own in the home half of the frame on a fielder’s choice that plated a run and an RBI single.

Jacob Ference worked a leadoff in the fourth and came around to score on Nunnallee’s 12th double of the season. Nunnallee came home to tie the game at 4-4, three batters on a Becker single to right field.

In relief of Bradley Hodges, Bryson Moore tossed three innings of shutout ball while surrendering only one hit with three strikeouts.

The Hokies took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth on a pinch-hit solo home run from Lewis.

After surrendering the go-ahead home run, Blanco only allowed a pair of Hokie baserunners over the final 2.2 innings.

Virginia attempted to mount a rally in the ninth when Chris Arroyo doubled down the line in right with two outs before Virginia Tech’s Grant Manning forced a groundout to end the game.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Dating back to the April 6 contest at NC State, the Cavaliers have hit at least one home run in 19 straight games.
• James Nunnallee extended his reached safely streak to 15 games on Friday with a single in the eighth inning.

UP NEXT

The rubber match against Virginia Tech is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at English Field. Lefthander Tomas Valincius (5-1) will get the start for Virginia in a game that’ll be carried on ACCNX and WINA (98.9/1070 AM).