No. 23 Virginia suffers 6-2 upset loss against Richmond

By Colin Moore
JerryRatcliffe.com correspondent

The No. 23 Virginia baseball team suffered a 6-2 defeat against in-state opponent Richmond Spiders on Tuesday at Disharoon Park.

After an uneventful first inning, Richmond began to build some momentum in the second with multiple big hits as well as some costly UVA walks from three separate pitchers. The Spiders held a 6-0 advantage entering the bottom of the fifth, where the Cavaliers managed to get a solo home run from Henry Godbout. Unfortunately the comeback fell just short after loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run, Henry Ford, at the plate.

Virginia starting pitcher Bradley Hodges didn’t have his best night on the mound, as he went 1.2 innings with three strikeouts, giving up three hits and three runs. The Hoos used 7 different pitchers in Wednesday’s midweek match, giving up 9 hits and 6 runs.

At the plate, the Hoos only registered 8 hits on the afternoon. Walker Buchanan also knocked in a RBI to get the Cavaliers on the score sheet.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Richmond (18-2)  started the scoring by tallying in the first 6 runs with a big second inning, and their final run came in the top of the fifth on a home run from DJ Pacheco.

After Godbout’s homer spurred the hopes of a Cavalier comeback, UVA left two standed to end the fifth inning, but responded and got one run in the bottom of the sixth from the bat of Buchanan.

Virginia (12-7) attempted to make a comeback late in the bottom of the ninth inning after Jacob Ference led off and registered a single up the middle. Next up, James Nunnallee made the Spiders take the force out at second, making it one out with one aboard on first base.

Luke Hansen was walked after tipping back a few pitches, allowing the Hoos to get two runners on base. Richmond’s pitching coach made a quick trip out to the mound before facing Eric Becker, and the trip paid off as Becker striked out.

The Spiders then decided to make the change which allowed Aidan Teel to place down a perfect bunt with two outs down the third-base line, allowing there to be no real play on the ball.

Ford was the Cavaliers’ last hope, as he was up next to bat. He battled, but ultimately hit a ground ball up the middle for an easy out at second to end the game.

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Courtesy UVA Media Relations

• Aidan Teel extended his on-base streak to 19 games with his bunt single in the bottom of the ninth.
• Godbout has now hit home runs in back-to-back for the second time in his career and the first time since hitting homers against VCU (4/30) and Navy (5/1) last season.
• Wednesday’s result was the first home midweek loss for UVA since falling to Old Dominion on April 12, 2022.
• With the loss, UVA falls to 90-60-2 all-time against Richmond and a six-game win streak over the Spiders that dates back to 2019.

UP NEXT 

The Hoos look to bounce back on Friday, as they host Duke in a three-game home series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.