Virginia Baseball Downs Coppin State, 14-0
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March 17, 1998
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Freshman catcher Mark Rueffert (Herndon, Va.) went 2-for-4 with a double and four runs batted in to lead the University of Virginia baseball to a 14-0 victory over Coppin State. With the win the Cavaliers ran their home winning streak to 14 games, tying the record for most consecutive victories at UVa Baseball Field. Virginia improves to 13-6 this season with the victory, while Coppin State falls to 0-15.
The Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead with seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior outfielder Ted Kinsman (Vienna, Va.) walked to open the inning, stole second and scored on an RBI double by freshman first baseman Hunter Wyant (White Hall, Va.). Junior designated hitter Javier Lopez (Fairfax, Va.) then hit a single to bring in Wyant, then Lopez stole second and scored on an RBI single by senior second baseman Ryan Gilleland (Forest, Va.). Senior outfielder E.J. Anderson (Mechanicsville, Va.) followed with a single, then sophomore shortstop Tim LaVigne (Virginia Beach, Va.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rueffert followed with a double to right center which cleared the bases and made the score 6-0. Rueffert would then cross the plate on an RBI single by Kinsman for the final run of the inning.
Virginia would score its other seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rueffert, senior outfielder Jon Kemmerer (Reston, Va.), freshman outfielder Matt Clay (Winchester, Va.) and senior designated hitter Keith Haney (Barboursville, Va.) all had RBI singles in the inning, which saw Coppin State commit four errors.
Wyant had the best day of his young career at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Kemmerer finished the day 2-for-3, while Lopez was 2-for-2 with a double.
Sophomore righthander Kevin Shrout (Murrysville, Pa.) picked up the victory to improve his record to 4-0 on the season. Shrout allowed only one hit in four innings while striking out eight. Freshman lefthander Brandon Creswell (Newport News, Va.) tossed two shutout innings of relief with six strikeouts, while freshman lefthander Jon Metzger (Fairfax Station, Va.) threw one scoreless inning to finish the game.
The Cavaliers return to the diamond on Friday, Mar. 20, when they begin a three-game series at North Carolina State with a 7:00 p.m. contest.
Virginia 14, Coppin State 0 R H ECoppin State (0-15) 000 000 0 - 0 2 4Virginia (13-6) 700 070 X - 14 15 2
CSC: Nick Burns, Mark Howell (6) and Sean Cooper; UVa: Kevin Shrout, Brandon Creswell (5), Jon Metzger (7) and Mark Rueffert; 2B: Hunter Wyant 2 (UVa), Javier Lopez (UVa), Luis Giraldo (UVa), Mark Rueffert (UVa). Win: Shrout (4-0); Loss: Burns (0-6).