Virginia Baseball Rallie Past VMI 13-7

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Feb. 25, 1998

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Senior third baseman Brian Sherlock (Medford, N.J.) went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored as Virginia overcame two four-run deficits in both the first and second innings to defeat in-state rival VMI 13-7. Freshman right handed pitcher Tommy Keiper (Chesapeake, Va.) and sophomore righty Bradley Nuckols (Crozier, Va.) came on in relief to cool down the Keydet bats, combining to strike out eight batters and surrender just one run and one hit over five innings before the game was halted by darkness.

Virginia answered a four-run first inning outburst by the Keydets with two runs in the first. Sherlock’s triple to the gap in left center field scored Javier Lopez from second. Designated hitter E.J. Anderson (Mechanicsville, Va.) drove Sherlock in with a groundout to short to narrow the deficit to 4-2. After the Keydets added two more in the top of the second, the Cavaliers’ responded with five runs, chasing starter Chris Riley from the game. Giraldo’s walk with the bases loaded plated Sherlock, putting the Cavaliers in front for good.

Keiper pitched three innings to pick up his first collegiate victory, surrendering just one unearned run and one hit while striking out three. The Cavalier offense gave him an ample cushion as they scored once in the third and three times in the fourth. Gilleland led off the fourth inning with a double and later came home on a sacrifice fly by Giraldo. Catcher Josh Bowling (Springfield, Va.) reached on an error and shortstop Tim LaVigne (Virginia Beach, Va.) singled before centerfielder Ted Kinsman (Vienna, Va.) drove both men in with a double, increasing the Virginia lead to 11-6.

A double by Gilleland drove in one of two Cavalier runs in the fifth inning. Bowling’s single plated Gilleland to make the score 13-6. Nuckols had little trouble holding the lead as he made quick work of the Keydet lineup in the seventh and eighth, striking out five of the six batters he faced. Umpires decided to call the game due to darkness at 6:00 p.m. after V.M.I. went down in order in the top of the eighth.

The Cavaliers will look to extend their winning streak, currently at five, in a three game set with Seton Hall this weekend at the UVa Baseball Field. The series gets underway on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.

Virginia 13, Virginia Military Institute 7 (8 inn.)                                                 R   H   EVMI (1-6)   4   2   0   0   0   1   0   0   --  7   8   3Virginia (6-1)  2   5   1   3   2   0   0   --  13  12  3VMI: Chris Riley, Ryan Mitchell (2), Josh Spradlin (3) and Scott Thompkins. Jeff Roberts (7) and Matt Kass; UVa: Denny Chapman, Kevin Shrout (1), Tommy Keiper (3), Bradley Nuckols (7) and Josh Bowling; 2B: Chris Catanzaro (VMI), Scott Thompkins (VMI), Ben Bradford (VMI), Ted Kinsman (UVa) and Ryan Gilleland, 2 (UVa); 3B: Brian Sherlock (UVa) and Ryan Gilleland (UVa). Game called in the middle of the 8th due to darkness.Win: Keiper (1-0); Loss: C. Riley (0-2).