LaVigne Drives in Four in Cavs 11-6 win.

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April 27, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Junior shortstop Tim LaVigne drove in acareer-high tying four runs and Jon Benick added three hits as theUniversity of Virginia defeated Liberty 11-6 here Tuesday. With the win,the Cavaliers improve to 18-30 on the season, while the Flames fall to21-20.

After the Cavaliers jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs onone hit in the bottom of the first, Liberty tied the score in the third whenJim Clinton laced a three-run, two-out double to left-center off UVastarter Jon Metzger. However, the tie was short-lived as Virginiaexploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Robbie Marvin had an RBIsacrifice bunt and LaVigne, Julian Gonzalez and David Stone each addedrun-scoring singles in the inning.

LaVigne capped his day with a three-run home run down theleftfield line with two outs in the fifth, pushing the UVa lead to 11-3. It wasthe third home run of the season for LaVigne. Earlier in the game, he tiedhis own school record when he was hit by a pitch for the 17th time thisseason.

Clinton returned for more damage in the ninth, lacing anotherthree-run, two-out double to center field. However, that was all theoffense on the day for the Flames. He finished the afternoon 2-for-5with six RBI to go along with Trey Miller’s 3-for-4 performance.

LaVigne finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs scored. JonBenick picked up three hits on the afternoon, giving him 75 on theseason. Benick is now alone in ninth place at Virginia in single-season hits.Gonzalez and Hunter Wyant added two-hit performances, while the formeralso drove in two runs. Stone also walked twice and stole a base – his 15thswipe of the season to tie Bill Narleski’s 1984 record for thefts by aUVA freshman.

Metzger (2-0) picked up his second victory in five days, goingfive innings and allowing three runs on four hits with seven strike outs.Mark Hurrie tossed the final four innings and surrendered three runs on fivehits with six strike outs.Jason Suitt (2-4) took the loss for Liberty, allowing six runson six hits with three walks and two strike outs over three and one-thirdinnings.

The Cavaliers will return to action Wednesday against VirginiaTech in Danville, Va. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. Liberty returns homefor a 3 p.m. contest Wednesday against George Mason.

VIRGINIA 11, LIBERTY 6

LU  (21-20)  003 000 003 -   6   9   4UVA (18-30)  300 530 00x -  11  13   0

WP – Jon Metzger (2-0). LP – Jason Suitt (2-4). Sv – None.Suitt, Reese (4), Brey (6), Price (7), Harrell (8) and Scott, Sikes (7);Metzger, Hurrie (6) and Rueffert. T – 3:16. A – 282.