Story Links

February 21, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Penn State right-handed pitcher Peter Yodis took a no-hitter into the fifth and struck out four Virginia batters in five innings of work here Sunday as the Nittany Lions defeated the Cavaliers 4-2. With the loss, UVa falls to 4-5, while Penn State picks up its first win of the season at 1-2.

The Nittany Lions touched UVa starter Greg Withelder for a run on two hits in the first, but it could have been a lot worse. After Michael Campo singled to lead off the game, Eric Spadt tripled to center to plate Campo. After a walk to Shawn Fagan, Withelder got Dan Beers to bounce back to the mound. Spadt broke for home and Withelder alertly threw to catcher Mark Rueffert, who applied the tag for the first out of the inning. UVa then got a strike-him-out, throw-him-out doubleplay to avoid further damage. Penn State added to its lead in the top of the fifth with three runs on two hits and three walks. Campo had a no-out single to plate Scott Hamilton, who led off the inning with a walk and then moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt at first. After Spadt drew his second walk of the day, Fagan tripled to right-center to plate both baserunners and give the Lions a 4-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Yodis (1-0) was taking care of the Cavaliers, allowing only one base runner via an error through the first four innings. He had still faced the minimum, though, with one out in the fifth when Mark Rueffert got UVa’s first hit of the day – a solid single back up the middle. However, UVa could not get on the board, leaving runners at second and third in that inning.

The Wahoos finally got on the board in the sixth, thanks to a bases-loaded walk by Rueffert. However, Penn State reliever Jason McIntyre avoided further danger, getting Tim LaVigne to pop up with the bases loaded to end the inning. UVa added a run in the ninth on an RBI groundout by pinch hitter Luis Giraldo. Julian Gonzalez, also pinch-hitting, followed with a missile down the thirdbase line that was called just foul. Fagan, who was in to close the door for PSU, got Gonzalez to strike out on the next pitch to end the game.

Yodis picked up the win for Penn State, allowing just two hits and a walk on the afternoon. Fagan pitched final three outs for his first save of the season. Withelder (1-2) was saddled with the loss for the Cavaliers, lasting six innings and surrendering four runs on seven hits with four walks and a career-high nine strike outs. Tim LaVigne carried the only hot bat in the lineup for Virginia, which was held to just four hits on the afternoon. LaVigne went 2-for-4 with his team-leading fourth double of the year. Rueffert went 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI, while Ryan Kalamaya notched the only other hit for UVa. Jonathan Benick saw his eight-game hitting streak come to an end, failing to get a hit for the first game this season. Virginia will return to action Wednesday as the Cavaliers travel to Norfolk for a 3 p.m. contest with Old Dominion.

PENN STATE 4, VIRGINIA 2

   PSU (1-2)   100 030 000 - 4 9 1UVa (4-5)   000 001 001 - 2 4 2WP - Yodis (1-0). LP - Withelder (1-2).Sv - Fagan (1). Yodis, Kunkle (6), McIntyre (6),Fagan (9) and Netwall; Withelder, Keiper (7) and Rueffert.
Print Friendly Version