Crucial ACC Series Ahead for Virginia
Story Links
April 2, 1999
Virginia vs. Georgia Tech
UVa Baseball Field
Charlottesville, Va.
April 2-4, 1999
CHARLOTTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia will play the third of a three-weekend homestand this weekend as the Cavaliers host No. 7 Georgia Tech for a three-game set. UVa hosted Duke two weeks ago, North Carolina State last weekend and will be on the road for each of the two coming weekends. The Cavaliers defeated Richmond 6-5 Wednesday in Charlottesville, while the Yellow Jackets were washed out that evening in a scheduled tilt with in-state rival Georgia. Virginia is 3-2 at home this season in ACC games. The Yellow Jackets have yet to play a conference game away from Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Series: This will be the 59th all-time meeting between the two schools and the 47th as ACC opponents. Georgia Tech holds the lead in both facets of the series — 44-23-1 overall and 39-17 since 1980. The first meeting between the Cavaliers and Yellow Jackets was in 1924. Virginia won the first and last games of a three-game series, while Tech took the middle game. Last season, the Cavaliers lost two games in Atlanta as the series finale was rained out. Georgia Tech last visited Charlottesville in 1997, taking two of three games. The Ramblin’ Wreck won the first two games before the Wahoos rebounded to salvage the series finale10-8 in seven innings.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
1999 Record: 23-6
1999 Rankings: 7 (CB), 15 (ABCA), 11 (BA)
Head Coach (Record at Tech): Danny Hall (238-106; fifth season)
Tech-UVa Series: Tech leads 44-23-1
Last Meeting: Tech, 27-4 in Atlanta (1998)
Three-run seventh propels UVa past Richmond: A three-run seventh inning proved to be the difference Wednesday as the Cavaliers defeated Richmond 6-5. The Spiders built a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but Virginia began chipping away at the lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The Spiders then pushed their lead back to three runs with a two-spot in the top of the sixth. The Cavaliers put another run on the board in the bottom of the inning, setting the stage for the deciding seventh. A Richmond error and a couple of sacrifice flies plated the runs with the game-winner coming off the bat of Tim LaVigne. Richmond made things interesting in the ninth, putting two runners aboard. LaVigne shut the door, though, recording the final two outs for his second save of the season. Brandon Creswell (5-3), who spelled starter Tommy Keiper in the sixth, notched the win in relief for the Cavaliers.
This weekend’s starters: Virginia will throw a trio of lefties for the second consecutive weekend against Georgia Tech. Jon Metzger will get the nod Friday, followed by Greg Withelder in Saturday’s second game and Brandon Creswell in the series finale Sunday. Here is a look at how each has faired in starts this season:
20 Jon Metzger, LHP, So., Fairfax Station, Va. Date Opponent W/L IP H R ER BB K 3-17 at UNC Greensboro ND 4.2 4 5 0 6 10 3-24 George Mason ND 2.0 1 1 1 2 2 3-27 N.C. State ND 5.1 6 3 1 2 4
29 Greg Withelder, LHP, So., Wallingford, Pa. Date Opponent W/L IP H R ER BB K 1-31 vs. Oklahoma W, 12-4 5.0 2 2 1 3 6 2-13 vs. East Carolina L, 0-12 5.2 8 8 7 5 8 2-21 Penn State L, 2-4 6.0 7 4 4 4 9 3-2 William & Mary L, 5-8 5.0 8 5 5 3 5 3-7 Rhode Island W, 7-0 7.0 2 0 0 1 11 3-16 at UNC Greensboro L, 4-8 4.0 7 7 7 3 5 3-23 at Liberty L, 4-5 5.0 6 5 5 4 9 3-28 N.C. State W, 9-6 6.0 6 3 3 2 4
11 Brandon Creswell, LHP, So., Newport News, Va. Date Opponent W/L IP H R ER BB K 2-12 at The Citadel W, 1-0 9.0 6 1 1 1 11 2-20 Penn State W, 2-0 5.2 6 1 1 3 6 2-27 Seton Hall L, 1-2 7.0 10 5 5 2 7 3-6 Rhode Island W, 3-1 5.0 5 1 1 0 6 3-13 at Florida State L, 2-3 6.0 7 2 2 4 9 3-19 Duke W, 4-2 7.2 8 5 4 3 7 3-25 N.C. State L, 1-2 9.0 6 2 2 1 6
That is not an error: When the Cavaliers went errorless in Wednesday’s victory against Richmond, it was just the third error-free game this season for the Cavaliers in 30 games. Virginia is 2-1 this season in such games, defeating Rhode Island 10-3 March 6 and losing March 23 at Liberty 5-4. With 64 miscues this season, UVa is averaging 2.13 errors per game with a .944 fielding percentage.
LaVigne working on saves mark: Junior closer Tim LaVigne is creeping toward the school record for saves. After notching three as a freshman in 1997, LaVigne led the squad for a second consecutive season with six last year. He has added two more saves this season after recording one Wednesday against Richmond. His 11 saves ranks second all-time at UVa, just two shy of Todd Ruyak’s 13 amassed from 1989 through 1992.
Player Sv Seasons 1. Todd Ruyak 13 1989-92 2. Tim LaVigne 11 1997-99 3. Greg Haden 8 1976-79
Should LaVigne lead the team in saves again this season, he would be the first Cavalier to top the team in that category for three consecutive seasons since Ruyak in 1990, 1991 and 1992. No other UVa player has ever accomplished that feat.
Road woes continue at Liberty: A four-run third inning proved detrimental to UVa’s cause yesterday in Lynchburg as Liberty overcame an early 3-0 defecit and eventually won the game 5-4. Josh Bowling tied the score for the Cavaliers with his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left in the top of the sixth. However, the Flames plated a run in the bottom of the inning and both teams were virtually offense-free for the final three frames. The loss extended UVa’s losing streak in away games to nine games and its losing streak on opponents’ fields to seven games. Virginia’s last win in either situation was a Feb. 12, 5-1 victory at The Citadel. The Wahoos are 2-11 away from home this season, 1-7 on opponents’ fields.
Withelder, Metzger combine for first shutout of 1999: Greg Withelder and Jon Metzger struck out 15 batters as the Cavaliers downed Rhode Island 7-0 in the final game of a three-game series last weekend. It was the first shutout for Virginia since March 14 last season when the Cavs defeated Coppin State 14-0. It was also the first time either pitcher had been involved in a shutout here at Virginia. Casey Kennedy remains the only current Wahoo winger with a complete-game shutout. Along the way, Withelder struck out a career high 11 Ram batters.
Metzger establishes career high in first-career start: After making 14-career relief appearances, Jon Metzger got his first start as a Cavalier Wednesday at UNC Greensboro and made good use of it. The sophomore Southpaw hurled four and two-thirds innings with a career-high 10 strike outs. Of the 14 outs for which he was responsible, two were on ground balls, two were on caught stealings and the other 10 were whiffs. Unfortunately, though, the Spartans touched him for five unearned runs in the fifth to drive him from the game. Metzger did not suffer the defeat, however, leaving with a 7-5 lead.
Finally … a dinger: Jonathan Benick belted a chest-high fastball over the rightfield wall in the fifth inning against William & Mary for the first UVa homer of the season and the first of his career in a Cavalier uniform. He followed that up with a two-run shot to left-center from the right side of the plate in the next game against Radford. Last season, Virginia got its first home run of the campaign in the second game of the year — Feb. 14 against South Alabama when Javier Lopez hit a solo shot. Brian Sherlock then followed with a solo homer of his own for the second Cavalier homer of the year. Through 13 games last season, Virginia had hit 18 home runs. Lopez led the way with seven.
HEAD COACH DENNIS WOMACK: UVa head coach Dennis Womack enters his 19th season with the Cavaliers and has posted a career record of 480-469-6. In 1996, he led Virginia to a school-record 44 victories, its first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championship and its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers also finished the 1996 season ranked No. 14 in the nation by Baseball America, their highest national ranking ever. Womack picked up the 450th victory of his career on March 4, 1998, when the Cavaliers captured an 18-4 win over William & Mary.
LaVigne establishes school record: Junior shortstop Tim LaVigne was plunked on the left arm in the seventh inning Tuesday against William & Mary. That gave him four on the season (tops on the team) and 21 on his career, breaking the previous school mark of 20 set by Justin Counts from 1993 to 1996. LaVigne established the school record for times being hit by a pitch with 17 last season.
Creswell named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week: Sophomore lefty Brandon Creswell was named co-pitcher of the week in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the week ending Feb. 14. The Southpaw struck out a career-high 11 batters in UVa’s 5-1 victory over The Citadel on its home field Friday night in first-day action of the Winn-Dixie Shootout. Creswell tossed the second complete game of his career and scattered six hits with only one walk. He held the Bulldogs scoreless for seven innings before giving up a scratch run in the eighth. Creswell struck out five batters in the final three innings to nail down his career high and the victory.
Benick named to all-Shootout Team: Creswell’s chances at all-Shootout honors were squelched when East Carolina’s Foye Minton hurled a no-hitter against North Carolina State in Game 8 Feb. 14. However, sophomore Jonathan Benick did display enough gusto on the weekend tobe named to the team. After blasting an RBI double off the right-center wall against The Citadel, Benick went on to hit .545 (6-for-11) on the weekend. With a hit in all three games, the first baseman/catcher has hit safely in every game this season. Benick is in his first season at Virginia after transferring from Auburn.
Withelder named all-tournament: For his two-run, two-hit performance over five innings of work against then-No. 32 Oklahoma, sophomore lefty Greg Withelder was named to the all-tournament team at the ACC/Disney Blast. The only Cavalier on the 11-man team, Withelder surrendered both runs and both hits in the first inning of Sunday’s game. He then pitched four innings of no-hit, scoreless baseball and picked up the first win of the season for the Cavaliers. Auburn’s Chris Bootcheck joined Withelder as the only pitchers on the team.
Season-opener streak snapped: All good things must come to an end, and for the Virginia baseball team last weekend was the time. For the first time in a decade, the Cavaliers lost their season-opener when the Jacksonville Dolphins downed the Wahoos 13-2 in first-day action of the ACC/Disney Blast. UVa is 8-1-1 in its last 10 season openers, which included a quaint seven-game winning streak and a nine-game non-losing streak prior to this season. In 1991, Virginia and Liberty battled to a 5-5 tie before darkness suspended the game. Ironically, the Cavs also tied their second game that season, again 5-5, this time to Radford. The Wahoos’ last loss in a season opener was a 6-2 defeat by VCU in 1989.
LaVigne, Creswell preseason picks by Collegiate Baseball: Junior shortstop Tim LaVigne and sophomore left hander Brandon Creswell were named Preseason Players to Watch in the ACC by Collegiate Baseball. LaVigne hit .262 with five home runs and 20 RBI last season to go along with seven steals in seven attempts. He was also 2-4 on the mound with a 5.76 ERA and a team-leading six saves. Creswell was 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA last season as a freshman with a couple of saves. He also struck out 49 batters with only 18 walks in 58 innings of work. Creswell also had a complete game, joining Casey Kennedy, who tossed three, as the only pitchers on the UVa staff with complete games.
Cavs try for four in a row: UVa’s 28-26-1 record last season marked the third consecutive winning tally for the Cavaliers. It was the first time the Wahoos have accomplished this since the 1984-86 seasons. Over this three-year span, Virginia is 104-69-2. The last time the Cavaliers posted four consecutive winning seasons was in the 1978-81 seasons. UVa’s record for consecutive winning marks is 13, set in the 1897-1909 seasons.
ACC coaches tab Cavaliers eighth: UVa was picked to finish eighth this season in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the annual preseason poll of the conference’s head coaches. Georgia Tech is the early favorite after nabbing five of nine first-place votes and 76 total points. Florida State and Wake Forest each received two of the other first-place votes; however, the Seminoles edged the Deacons 71-62 in total points to place second. North Carolina was picked fourth, followed by Clemson, Duke and North Carolina State. Maryland finished behind UVa in ninth.
UVa baseball on the air waves: WINA/1070 AM, the Home of the Hoos, will carry 15 games this season. Former UVa left-handed pitcher Robby Robinson and baseball media relations director Larry Little will be on the call. Virginia’s radio season will get under way April 3 against Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers went 2-2 in games broadcast by WINA during the 1998 season.
Cavaliers on the Net: Up-to-date information on the University of Virginia baseball team is now available on the internet at http://www.virginiasports.com. The site includes the Cavaliers’ roster, schedule, results, player profiles, statistics, releases, game stories and historical information. Game stories will be updated on a timely basis following the completion of each contest. Updated statistics will be posted each Monday during the season.
Probable Starters 17 Luis Giraldo 3B .255, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 5 2B, 2 3B, 6-7 SB 9 Jon Benick 1B/C .333, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 7 2B, .564 SLG, 1-4 SB 21 Julian Gonzalez RF .346, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 10 2B, .642 SLG, 6-8 SB 13 Mark Rueffert C/DH .316, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 7 2B, .411 SLG, .400 OBP 16 Tim LaVigne SS .280, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 5 2B, .380 SLG, 5-7 SB 10 Hunter Wyant 2B .246, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 3 2B, 2-3 SB 34 David Stone LF .283, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 3 2B, 7-9 SB 5 Josh Bowling DH/1B .229, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 2B, .417 SLG 22 Ryan Kalamaya CF .262, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 4 2B, 4-7 SB
Friday 20 Jon Metzger LHP 0-0, 2.95 ERA, 21.1 IP, 21 H, 15 BB, 32 K
Saturday 29 Greg Withelder LHP 3-5, 6.45 ERA, 44.2 IP, 47 H, 25 BB, 57 K
Sunday 11 Brandon Creswell LHP 5-3, 4.02 ERA, 53.2 IP, 59 H, 16 BB, 57 K
Double-Digit Whiffs No. Pitcher Ks Date Opponent (game) 1 Brandon Creswell 11 2-12 at The Citadel 2 Kevin Shrout 12 2-20 Penn State (1) 3 Greg Withelder 11 3-7 Rhode Island 4 Jon Metzger 10 3-17 at UNC Greensboro
1999 Cavalier Firsts
Batting
At bat: Robbie Marvin — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville
Hit: Jon Benick — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 1)
Run: Luis Giraldo — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 2)
RBI: Michael Floyd — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 2)
Extra-base hit: Julian Gonzalez (2b) — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 7)
Double: Julian Gonzalez — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 7)
Triple: Robbie Marvin — Feb. 14 vs. VCU (top 1)
Home run: Jon Benick — March 2 vs. William & Mary (bottom 5)
Base runner: David Stone (walk) — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 1)
Walk: David Stone — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 1)
Strike out: David Stone — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 3)
Hit batsman: Luis Giraldo — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 2)
Sacrifice bunt: Tim LaVigne — Jan. 14 vs. VCU (top1)
Sacrifice fly: Jon Benick — March 2 vs. William & Mary (bottom 7)
Stolen base attempt: Luis Giraldo — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 2)
Stolen base: Luis Giraldo — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (bottom 2)
Caught stealing: Robbie Marvin — Jan. 31 vs. Oklahoma (bottom 1)
Pitching
Win: Greg Withelder — Jan. 31 vs. Oklahoma
Loss: Casey Kennedy — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville
Save: Tim LaVigne — Feb. 20 vs. Penn State (game 1)
Complete game: Brandon Creswell — Feb. 12 at The Citadel
Shutout:
Strike out: Casey Kennedy — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (top 1)
Walk: Casey Kennedy — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (top 4)
Wild pitch: John Metzger — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (top 8)
Hit batsman: Casey Kennedy — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (top 3)
Balk: Mark Hurrie — March 6 vs. Rhode Island (top 7; game 1)
Fielding
Putout: Jon Benick — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville
Assist: Robbie Marvin — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (top 1)
Fielding error: David Stone — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (top 9)
Throwing error: Luis Giraldo — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville (top 4)
1999 Big Innings
VirginiaFirst: 6 — March 7 vs. Rhode IslandSecond: 7 — March 20 vs. DukeThird: 6 — Jan. 31 vs. OklahomaFourth: 8 — March 19 vs. DukeFifth: 5 — Feb. 12 at The CitadelSixth: 7 — March 19 vs. DukeSeventh: 4 — March 20 vs. DukeEighth: 1 — March 2 vs. William & Mary; March 6 vs. Rhode Island (game 2)Ninth: 1 — Jan. 29 vs. Jacksonville; Feb. 21 vs. Penn State
OpponentFirst: 3 — Richmond, March 31Second: 3 — Seton Hall, Feb. 27 (game 1)Third: 4 — William & Mary, March 2Fourth: 3 — George Mason, March 24Fifth: 3 — Penn State, Feb. 21; at Florida State, March 14Sixth: 7 — Auburn, Jan. 30Seventh: 5 — North Carolina State, March 27Eighth: 5 — Jacksonville, Jan. 29; Seton Hall, Feb. 27 (game 2)Ninth: 2 — Jacksonville, Jan. 29
Baseball Weekly/ESPN ABCA Top 25 Poll
Team (1st place votes) Rec. Pts. LW 1. Florida State (26) 16-3 982 1 2. Rice (14) 20-3 968 23. Stanford 15-6 872 44. Auburn 18-2 855 55. Louisiana State 12-3 758 76. Miami, Fla. 14-5 750 37. Texas A&M 15-3 748 88. Pepperdine 17-1 681 99. Texas 15-6 637 1010. North Carolina 12-0 566 1111. Florida 10-4 540 1212. Cal State-Fullerton 14-5 500 1513. Mississippi State 13-1 494 1414. Florida International 20-0 460 1815. Arizona State 19-8 454 616. Wichita State 11-5 424 1617. Texas Tech 16-5 412 1318. Baylor 15-5 319 2119. Georgia Tech 13-4 309 2120. Alabama 12-4 216 2321. North Carolina State 14-1 192 2522. Long Beach State 8-6 169 1923. Arizona 16-8 129 1724. Florida Atlantic 15-1 79 –25. South Carolina 12-3 76 —
RECEIVING VOTES: Hawaii (62), Nevada (58), Tulane (48), Washington (38), Arkansas (31), Illinois (25), Ohio State (24), Wake Forest (22), Southwest Missouri State (18), UCLA (16), Old Dominion (11), East Carolina (10), Virginia Commonwealth (8), Louisville (7), Oklahoma State (6), Southern California (6), Clemson (6), Jacksonville (4), UNC-Greensboro (3), Washington State (3), Houston (1), Notre Dame (1), Minnesota (1), Southwestern Louisiana (1).
Multiple-RBI GamesNo. Player (RBI) Date Opponent (game)1 Jon Benick (5) 1-31 vs. Oklahoma2 Shawn McCleary (2) 1-31 vs. Oklahoma3 Jon Benick (2) 2-20 Penn State (1)4 Mark Rueffert (2) 2-20 Penn State (1)5 Jon Benick (3) 3-2 William & Mary6 Jon Benick (2) 3-4 Radford7 Luis Giraldo (2) 3-4 Radford8 Luis Giraldo (4) 3-6 Rhode Island (1)9 Hunter Wyant (3) 3-6 Rhode Island (1)10 Jon Benick (3) 3-6 Rhode Island (2)11 Luis Giraldo (2) 3-6 Rhode Island (2)12 Julian Gonzalez (2) 3-6 Rhode Island (2)13 David Stone (2) 3-6 Rhode Island (2)14 Julian Gonzalez (3) 3-7 Rhode Island15 Julian Gonzalez (3) 3-12 at Florida State16 Julian Gonzalez (2) 3-14 at Florida State17 Luis Giraldo (2) 3-16 at UNC Greensboro18 Jon Benick (2) 3-17 at UNC Greensboro19 Michael Floyd (2) 3-17 at UNC Greensboro20 Hunter Wyant (4) 3-19 Duke21 Jon Benick (2) 3-19 Duke22 Luis Giraldo (2) 3-19 Duke23 Julian Gonzalez (2) 3-19 Duke24 Ryan Kalamaya (2) 3-19 Duke25 Josh Bowling (4) 3-20 Duke26 Tim LaVigne (3) 3-20 Duke27 Jon Benick (2) 3-20 Duke28 Mark Rueffert (2) 3-20 Duke29 Jon Benick (2) 3-27 N.C. State30 Jon Benick (3) 3-28 N.C. State31 Julian Gonzalez (3) 3-28 N.C. State
Hitting Streaks(six games or more)Player (games) Dates StatisticsJulian Gonzalez (11) 3/6-3/23 .395 (17-for-43), 4 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBIJon Benick (8) 1/29-2/20 .500 (15-for-30), 3 2B, 9 RBIJon Benick (7) 2/27-3/12 .370 (10-for-27), 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBITim LaVigne (7) 3/17-3/27 .500 (12-for-24), HR, 7 R, 5 RBIMark Rueffert (7) 2/27-3/7 .391 (9-for-23), 4 2B, 5 R, 3 RBILuis Giraldo (6) 3/14-3/23 .400 (10-for-25), 2B, HR, 7 R, 6 RBIMark Rueffert (6) 3/14-3/23 .500 (12-for-24), 2 2B, 3B, 7 R, 3 RBI
1999 ‘Hoo HonorsJonathan Benick * Winn-Dixie All-Shootout Team — Feb. 14Brandon Creswell * Preseason ACC Player to Watch — Collegiate Baseball * ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week — Feb. 15Tim LaVigne * Preseason ACC Player to Watch — Collegiate BaseballGreg Withelder * ACC/Disney Blast All-Tournament Team — Jan. 31