Virginia rallies again to defeat Tribe, 8-5

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Posted on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, 12:40 am

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

Virginia erased two early deficits in an 8-5 victory over William & Mary on Tuesday evening at Disharoon Park. For the Cavaliers, it was their third come-from-behind win through the first nine games of the season.

Trailing 5-4 going into the fifth, Virginia (6-3) rallied for four runs to jump out to an 8-5 lead and the Cavalier bullpen held William & Mary (3-5) scoreless in its final five turns at the plate seal the victory.

Catcher Logan Michaels delivered the go-ahead blow with his first home run as a Cavalier in the game-changing fifth inning. The senior hit a two-run shot over the left center field wall to break a 5-5 tie. A batter later, Christian Hlinka hit a solo shot to the opposite field for his team-leading, third long ball of the year and gave Virginia an 8-5 advantage.

Junior reliever Andrew Abbott would do the majority of the heavy lifting from there. The left-hander was dominant, striking out a career-high eight batters in 3.1 innings of work. Eight of the 10 outs he recorded were via the strikeout. Abbott was credited with the win and moved to 2-0 on the season.

“As I told the team, I thought that was a nice come-from-behind victory,” said head coach Brian O’Connor. “I thought that (Andrew) Abbott was the story of the game, his longest outing of the year. He showed the value he has and the weapon he is out of our bullpen.”

Right-hander Stephen Schoch pitched a scoreless ninth inning and worked around a Cavalier fielding error for his third save of the season.

Sophomore Zack Gelof continued his hot-hitting with a 3-for-4, two-RBI effort at the plate and reached base a total of four times. It marked the fourth straight contest he has put forth a multi-hit game. In his last four games he is 9 for 15 (.600) with six runs scored, a double, a triple, two home runs and eight RBI.

Freshman Chris Newell went 3 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. He has reached base in eight of his first nine collegiate games. Junior transfer Marc Lebreux tied the game for the last time in the fifth with an RBI double and finished the day 2 for 5 with a run scored. Junior Brendan Rivoli rounded out the Cavalier multi-hit performers with a 2-for-5 day.

Virginia continues its home stand this weekend with three games against Dartmouth beginning with the series opener on Friday at 3 p.m.

Box Score

Additional Notes:

  • The game saw three lead changes and one tie score over the first four innings of play.
  • Virginia hitters struck out a season-low two times, both strikeouts occurred in the seventh inning.
  • Virginia has now won 17 of its last 18 games against non-conference opponents at Disharoon Park.
  • The Cavaliers improve to 78-31-2 all-time against William & Mary. The two schools have met in all but two seasons (1996 & 2006) since 1968.
  • Virginia is 2-0 this season and 6-1 all-time in games that Zach Messinger starts. The sophomore allowed two earned runs over the 2.2 innings of work.