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March 5, 1998

THE SLATE: Virginia (10-1 overall) begins a stretch in which it plays 11 of its next 13 games away from home this weekend. The Cavaliers begin by heading to Georgia Tech for a three-game series from Mar. 6-8. Virginia will play the Yellow Jackets at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, then at 1:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The Cavaliers will then return to Virginia for a home and home series with Liberty on Tuesday, Mar. 10 (3:00 p.m. in Lynchburg), and Wednesday, Mar. 11 (3:00 p.m. in Charlottesville).

THE SERIES WITH THE YELLOW JACKETS: Georgia Tech and Virginia have played 67 times prior to this weekend, with the Yellow Jackets leading the all-time series 43-23-1. Since the beginning of the 1988 season, Georgia Tech has dominated the series, winning 28 of the 35 games. During that time the Cavaliers have won the regular season series with the Yellow Jackets only once, taking two of three games in Charlottesville in 1995. Georgia Tech has won five of the last six regular season games, but Virginia posted an 8-4 victory when the schools met in the 1996 ACC Tournament.

CAVALIERS RUN WINNING STREAK TO NINE GAMES: With its victory over William & Mary on Wednesday, Virginia has now won nine consecutive games. The Cavaliers current string of nine straight victories ties for the fifth longest win streak in school history. The longest winning streak in school history is 12 games, when the Cavaliers won the final five games of 1900 and the first seven games of the 1901 season. There have also been four 10-game winning streaks in UVa history (in 1923-24, 1940-41 and 1947). The current string of nine straight victories marks only the third time since 1947 the Cavaliers have won nine games in a row. The two other occasions came in the 1987 and 1988 seasons.

STARTING OFF STRONG: With their 10-1 record through the first 11 games of the 1998 season, the Cavaliers are off to one of the best starts in school history. This season marks only the seventh time in school history Virginia has won 10 games before picking up its second loss. The 1909 squad had the most successful start, opening with a 15-1 record before losing its second game. Virginia also got off to a fast start in 1971, going 13-1 before losing for the second time. The Cavaliers have also opened with a 10-1 record four times, in 1924, 1932, 1940 and 1947. (Note: this list does not include the 1889 team which posted a perfect record of 7-0 for the season. 1889 is the only year a Virginia baseball team lost fewer than two games.)

ON THE MOUND: Sophomore righthander Casey Kennedy (3-0, 2.70 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Cavaliers against Georgia Tech in the first game of the series on Mar. 6. Freshman lefthander Greg Withelder (1-0, 2.60 ERA) will then start against the Yellow Jackets in the second game on Mar. 7. In the final game of the series, junior lefthander Javier Lopez (3-0, 3.48 ERA) will take the mound for Virginia.

KINSMAN BREAKS OUT AGAINST WILLIAM & MARY: Senior outfielder Ted Kinsman, who has batted in the lead-off spot every game this season, broke out of a small slump in Wednesday

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