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March 16, 2001
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team recorded its first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season after posting a 4-3 victory over the visiting Duke Blue Devils this afternoon at the UVa Baseball Field. The Cavaliers fell behind early by the score of 2-0 through three innings of play before rallying to pull out a 4-3 win.
Duke jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Kevin Kelly scored a run before teammate Troy Caradonna was caught in a pickoff in between first and second base. The Blue Devils extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning when J.D. Alleva hit an RBI-double down the right field line to score Brian Patrick, making it a 2-0 Duke lead.
Virginia’s Hunter Wyant (2-4, two runs, RBI, double) cut the Blue Devils lead in half when he hit an RBI-single to center field to score teammate David Stone (1-4, run), making it a 2-1 contest. Stone reached base on a single which extended his current hitting streak to 17 games. Wyant eventually scored a run later in the inning on a throwing error by Duke’s Alleva to tie the game at 2-2.
The Cavaliers took their first lead of the game at 3-2 when Wyant doubled down the left field line and then scored in UVa’s next at-bat when Mark Rueffert (1-4, RBI, run) hit an RBI-single to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rueffert scored what would become the eventual game-winning run after Chris Sweet (1-4, RBI, double) hit an RBI-double to left-center field, making it a 4-2 UVa lead.
The Blue Devils made a late rally in the top of the ninth inning when Duke’s David Mason scored on an RBI-single by pinch hitter Doug Bechtold. However, the Blue Devils’ Kelly grounded out to short stop with two outs and two runners on base to end the game.
Virginia’s Brandon Creswell (3-2) earned his third win of the season after pitching 7.1 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with a game-high 11 strikeouts. UVa’s Greg Hansard pitched 0.2 innings to end the game and earned his first collegiate save in the closing role. Duke’s Ryan Caradonna (2-4) took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with three strikeouts.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 11-7 overall, 1-3 in the ACC. The loss drops Duke’s record to 8-14 overall, 1-3 in the conference.
The Cavaliers and Blue Devils will return to action on Saturday, March 17th. The contest is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be played at the UVa Baseball Field.
– UVa –