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Baseball
#1 Florida State Sweeps Virginia in ACC Doubleheader, 8-3 & 14-4
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March 16, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team dropped a pair of games in an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader to the #1 ranked Florida State Seminoles in front of 734 spectators this afternoon at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Florida State won the first game 8-3 before claiming a 14-4 victory in the second contest to win the three-game weekend series, two games to one. UVa defeated FSU by the score of 11-10 in the first game of the series on Friday, March 15th.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Virginia jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Dan Street singled to left field and scored a run in the Cavaliers’ next at-bat when Robert Word blasted a two-run home run to deep right-center field. UVa held on to its two-run lead through four complete innings of play until the Seminoles responded in the top of the fifth inning with five runs of their own.
After Michael Futrell and Bryan Zech each singled and scored a run to tie the game at 2-2, Ryan Barthelemy belted a three-run home run to deep right-center field to give Florida State its first lead of the game at 5-2. FSU added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning when Jerrod Brown (walk) and Zech (single) each scored a run to push the Seminoles lead to 7-2.
The Cavaliers cut FSU’s lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning when D. Street walked and scored a run two batters later when Word drove him in with a RBI-double to right-center field. But Florida State added a run in the top of the ninth inning when Nick Rogers singled and stole second base before he scored a run when Barthelemy hit a RBI-single to shallow center field to make it an 8-3 Seminole lead. FSU would hold on for the five-run win.
Virginia’s Jeff Kamrath (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season after going 4.1 innings and surrendering four runs on five hits to go along with three strikeouts. Florida State’s Robby Read (5-0) earned the victory after going seven innings and allowing three runs on five hits to add with his game-high seven strikeouts. FSU’s Daniel Hodges picked up his second save of the season after going two innings and allowed just one hit with three strikeouts.
In game two, Florida State took an early 1-0 in the top of the first inning when Tony McQuade walked before scoring later in the inning on a wild pitch. But UVa answered right back with a run of its own when Matt Street singled and scored in the Cavaliers’ next at-bat when his brother, Dan, drove him in with a RBI-double down the right field line to knot the score at 1-1.
The Seminoles regained the lead in the top of the third inning for good when Zech singled and scored from first base on a RBI-double down the right field line by McQuade to make it a 2-1 contest. FSU held its one-run lead until the top of the fifth inning when it exploded for 10 runs in the inning, highlighted by Rogers’ two-run RBI-double. Florida State’s 10 runs were recorded with seven hits and two Cavalier errors in the inning. The Seminoles added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning when Rogers reached first base on a fielders choice before Barthelemy drove him in with a triple, before Barthelemy scored a run himself one batter later when Chris Hart turned in a RBI-ground out.
UVa added three runs to its total in the bottom of the ninth inning when D. Street scored a run on a RBI-single through the left side by Chris Sweet before Sweet and Word each scored a run on an error by FSU’s Futrell when he dropped a fly ball hit to left field. Virginia’s three runs made the final score 14-4.
UVa starting pitcher Ty Collins (0-1) took the loss after going just three innings and allowing two runs on three hits with a team-high three strikeouts. FSU’s Blair Varnes (4-2) earned the win after pitching seven strong innings and gave up just one run on five hits to add to his game-high five strikeouts.
With the two losses, Virginia’s record falls to 12-9 overall, 1-2 in the ACC. The two victories improve Florida State’s record to 24-5 overall, 2-1 in the conference.
UVa will return to action on Wednesday, March 20th when the Cavaliers host the James Madison Dukes. The contest is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. and will be played at the UVa Baseball Stadium. FSU will return to home action on Tuesday, March 19th when the Seminoles host The Citadel Bulldogs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Dick Howser Stadium.
– UVa –