Virginia improves to 10-0 with 10-4 win over Penn State

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia (10-0) won its 10th straight game, a 10-4 series-clinching victory over Penn State (3-6) on Saturday at Disharoon Park. The Cavaliers are 10-0 to start the season for the sixth time in the Brian O’Connor era (2004-present).

Virginia used another big inning, plating five runs in the bottom of the second inning to break a 1-1 stalemate. It marked the ninth time in 10 games this season UVA has scored more than five runs in a single inning.

On the mound, lefthander Brian Gursky recorded his third win after he struck out five batters over 5.1 innings pitched. The graduate transfer allowed two runs and walked one in his third start of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sophomore Kyle Teel provided the fireworks in the five-run second inning. He blasted a three-run home run onto the porch in right field to make the score 6-1. The long ball was his second of the season.
• Griff O’Ferrall broke the 1-1 tie in the second inning with a two-RBI single through the left side. He went on to score three of the Cavaliers 10 runs after a 1-for-4 effort at the plate.
• Virginia capitalized on three Penn State fielding errors, two that led to Cavalier runs.
• After taking over for Dylan Bowers in the eighth inning Matthew Buchanan stranded two runners in scoring position and was aided by an inning-ending circus catch by Devin Ortiz in foul territory.

FROM HEAD COACH BRIAN O’CONNOR

“Fortunately we got some big knocks when it counted. Obviously, Kyle Teel’s three run home run was a big one. I thought (Brian) Gursky gave us another quality start. It was great to see Matt Buchanan come in and that scenario with runners on and they’re starting to rally a little bit. The poise for a freshman to do what he did was impressive. I thought again that we played really, really good defense, no errors and grinded it out. We’ve got a chance to do something special tomorrow.”

UP NEXT

The final game of series is scheduled for Sunday (March 6) at 1 p.m. The Cavaliers will send Brandon Neeck (1-0) to the mound. Youth (eighth grade and under) get into Sunday’s game for free with a ticketed adult.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Virginia has now scored 10 or more runs in seven-straight games for only the second time in program history – 1893 (7), 2022 (7).
• The Cavaliers improve to 10-0 for the sixth time in school history (2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2022). All six 10-0 starts have occurred under O’Connor.
• Max Cotier brought home the 10th run for UVA with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Chris Newell. Cotier went 2-for-3, with two runs scored and an RBI. Cotier has reached base safely in nine-straight games. As a team, Virginia came into the weekend ranked sixth in the country in sacrifice flies.