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March 1, 2001
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Virginia scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning, breaking a 10-10 tie, to defeat Liberty, 13-10, today at Worthington Stadium.
Doug Vroman’s (So., CF, Westport, Conn.) RBI single in the top of the ninth scored Chris Sweet (So., RF, Houston, Texas.) from third base to put the Cavaliers on top for good. Virginia scored twice more in the inning to insure the 13-10 victory.
Virginia (6-3) got on the board early when Jon Benick (Sr., 3B, Glen Lyon, Pa.) hit a two-run home run in the first inning. Benick capped off a four-run second inning for the Cavaliers with a two-run home run to right field.
Liberty (5-4) responded with two runs in the bottom of the second, two more in the fourth and one in the fifth, before UVA extended its lead to 9-5 with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Keith Butler (So., CF, Marietta, Ga.) singled to lead off the Flames’ seventh inning and was scored on a single by Steve Baker (Jr., RF, Rome, N.Y.), before Erich Cloninger (Fr., C, Denver, N.C.) hit a two-run double to score Baker and Kelly Knouse (Jr., DH, Tampa, Fla.), bringing the Flames within one.
Virginia scored again in the top of the eighth before Liberty’s Joey Monahan (So., SS, Marietta, Ga.) singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth and was scored on an RBI double by Larry Wayne York (So., 2B, Ramseur, N.C.). Butler hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score York who had advanced to third on an outfield error, tying the game at 10-10.
Liberty’s pitching did not hold up in the top of the ninth, allowing three Cavalier runs and Monahan struck out looking with two out in the bottom of the ninth and runners on first and second to end the game and hand Liberty its fourth straight loss.
Josh Brey (So., LHP, Allentown, Pa.) (0-1) suffered the loss in relief for the Flames and Alexander Star (So., RHP, Chevy Chase, Md.) picked up his first win of the season pitching two innings of relief.
Liberty will host Fairfield at Worthington Stadium on Saturday, March 3 in a double header starting at noon. Virginia will host Seton Hall in a double header on March 3 at noon in Charlottesville, Va.