Last 23 Home-Openers Have Been Kind to Virginia Baseball

Story Links

Feb. 25, 2003

VIRGINIA TO FACE SETON HALL IN HOME-OPENING SERIES: Virginiawill host the Seton Hall Pirates in UVa’s home-opening series on February 28th,March 1st and March 2nd. The Cavaliers will face the Pirates on Friday, February 28that 3:00 PM; Saturday, March 1st at 1:00 PM and Sunday, March 2nd at 1:00 PM.All three games will be played at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Virginia swept Seton Hall three games to none last seasonwhen the Cavaliers and Pirates met in a three-game series. Virginia defeated Seton Hall2-0 on March 2, 2002 before beating the Pirates 18-3 and 5-1 in a doubleheader onMarch 3rd. All three games were played at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.

UVA IN HOME OPENERS: Over the past 23 seasons, Virginia stands 20-1-2 (.913)all-time in home openers, including a 19-1-2 (.909) mark all-time under current UVahead coach Dennis Womack. The Cavaliers have not lost a home-opener since a 6-2 setback toVCU back on March 1, 1989. Virginia has either won or tied its home opener thepast 13 consecutive seasons. Here is a look at UVa’s home openers since 1980:

Year	Opponent	Date	Result/Score2002	Bucknell		2/16	W, 10-32001	Navy		2/17	W, 9-12000	Old Dominion	2/16	T, 14-141999	Penn State	2/20	W, 6-31998	Penn State	2/21	W, 5-21997	Seton Hall	2/22	W, 11-101996	Old Dominion	2/19	W, 3-21995	Marshall		2/18	W, 5-01994	Georgetown	2/25	W, 14-01993	Marshall		2/20	W, 4-21992	VMI		2/22	W, 14-51991	Liberty		2/25	T, 5-51990	William & Mary 	2/23	W, 6-31989	VCU		3/1	L, 6-21988	West Chester	2/28	W, 13-81987	VCU		3/4	W, 6-11986	Seton Hall	3/1	W, 3-21985	Seton Hall	3/1	W, 3-01984	George Mason	3/4	W, 12-11983	VCU		3/5	W, 11-81982	Norfolk State 	3/22	W, 15-81981	Westfield State	3/12	W, 21-81980	Longwood	3/17	W, 10-8

VIRGINIA DEFEATS LIBERTY FOR FIRST VICTORY OF THESEASON/FIRST ROAD WIN: With its 15-5 victory over Liberty, Virginiachalked-up its first win of the 2003 season. The victory also marked UVa’sfirst road win of the year. The Cavaliers’ starting pitcher Andrew Dobies got the win and led the way on the mound forVirginia while pitching 7.0 innings with two strikeouts and allowed onlytwo earned runs. UVa’s Matt Street paced the offense by going 3-for-4 at the plate with three runsand an RBI.

VIRGINIA’S SERIES WITH PENN STATE CANCELLED: Virginia’sthree-game series with the Penn State Nittany Lions scheduled for February22-23 was cancelled due to inclement weather in the Charlottesville area alongwith insufficient playing conditions at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.The series is not expected to be made up. The decision was made by Virginia officialswho determined the playing surface of Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadiumwas not suitable for competition and would not be able to be prepared appropriatelyto host the three-game series with Penn State. Davenport Field at the UVa BaseballField had been covered with snow for the entire week prior to the series and theplaying surface became saturated with moisture due to the melting snow and theheavy rain which had been falling two days prior to the series.

ZIMMERMAN COMES OUT SWINGING!: Virginia’s first-year starting thirdbaseman Ryan Zimmerman started his career as a Cavaliers with a bang! Zimmerman wenta perfect 3-for-3 in his first three trips to the plate against Auburn and recordedtwo doubles and a single in those at-bats. He recorded a single in his first at-bat,hit a double in his second at-bat, and then hit a RBI-double in his third at-bat.Zimmerman finished 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs and one RBI for the game.

UVA FRESHMEN, HAGAN & ZIMMERMAN, START ON OPENING DAY: Thefirst-year duo of Tom Hagan and Ryan Zimmerman started for the Cavaliers inUVa’s season-opener at Auburn on February 14th. Hagan started in left field andfinished 1-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored, and Zimmerman startedat third base and went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs and one RBI.

JORDAN GHRIST HITS VIRGINIA’S FIRST HOME RUN OF THE SEASON:UVa outfielder Jordan Ghrist made his first collegiate start count when he started in left field onFebruary 15th at Auburn and finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a RBI and one run.One of Ghrist’s two hits was a home run, the first by a Virginia player for the 2003 season.

MIKE BALLARD MAKES FIRST START ON THE MOUND: UVa first-yearLHP Mike Ballard made his first collegiate start in just Virginia’s second game of the season whenhe took the mound against Auburn on February 15th as the Cavaliers startingpitcher. Ballard pitched five strong innings and allowed three runs (one earned)on six hits while recording a game-high four strikeouts.

VIRGINIA DROPS SEASON-OPENING SERIES AT AUBURN: The Virginiabaseball team lost three games by a combined five runs to the #20 Auburn Tigersin UVa’s season-opening weekend series at Auburn on February 14-16. Auburndefeated Virginia 14-13 in game one, 5-3 in the second game and 7-5 in the finalcontest of the three-game weekend series. UVa had a lead in two of the contestsand was tied in another, but could not come away with a win. Virginia lead Auburn10-1 in the fourth inning of game one, was tied at 3-3 in the seventh inning of gametwo, and lead 5-1 in the fifth inning of game three before the Tigers mounted acomeback in each contest.

CAVALIERS WERE THE SECOND TEAM FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIATO FACE AUBURN THIS SEASON: Following its three-game weekend seriesat Auburn (Feb. 14-16), UVa became the second school from the state if Virginiato face the Auburn Tigers in the opening weeks of the 2003 season. Auburn alsohosted the Virginia Commonwealth Rams on February 7-9. Auburn won the serieswith VCU (2-1) and against Virginia (3-0).

VIRGINIA PICKED TO FINISH SEVENTH IN ACC COACHES POLL: TheUniversity of Virginia baseball team was picked to finish seventh in the 2003Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll. UVa received atotal of 29 points in the poll to finish in front of both the Duke Blue Devilsand the Maryland Terrapins. The ACC’s nine head coaches selected the GeorgiaTech Yellow Jackets as the top pick to win the conference championship in 2003with six first place votes and a total of 77 points in the poll. Georgia Tech return 22 of the 28 letterwinner from its 2002 squad that finishedthe season with a 52-16 record, including a 14-9 league mark and a trip to the NCAACollege World Series. Just behind the Yellow Jackets in the poll were the FloridaState Seminoles who finished a close second place with 73 points and two first placevotes after finishing the 2002 season as the regular season and ACC TournamentChampions. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons finished in third place with 65 points andone first place vote. Wake Forest finished last season with a 47-13-1 overallrecord and was the second seed at the ACC Tournament with a 17-6 ACC record. The Clemson Tigers were picked to finish in fourth place with 54 points,while the North Carolina Tar Heels placed fifth in the balloting with 41 points.North Carolina was followed by the N.C. State Wolfpack who finished with 30points good for sixth place in the poll, just one more point than Virginia with 29points in seventh. Duke was picked to finish in eighth place with 19 points andMaryland rounded out the poll in ninth place with 17 points.

2003 ACC Coaches Preseason Predicted Order of Finish:

Place School Points 2002 Record/Finish1. Georgia Tech (6) 77 52-16, 14-9 ACC2. Florida State (2) 73 60-14, 18-6 ACC3. Wake Forest (1) 65 47-13-1, 17-6 ACC4. Clemson 54 54-17, 16-8 ACC5. North Carolina 41 43-21, 17-7 ACC6. N.C. State 30 33-26, 7-17 ACC7. VIRGINIA 29 25-32, 8-16 ACC8. Duke 19 24-34, 4-20 ACC9. Maryland 17 34-23, 6-18 ACC

HANSARD, STARR AND SWEET NAMED TRI-CAPTAINS: University ofVirginia head baseball coach Dennis Womack has announced that three fourth-year players, Greg Hansard, Shooter Starr and Chris Sweet, have been selected as team captains and will serve asthe tri-captains for the 2003UVa baseball team. “The baseball captains at Virginia are chosen by their teammate, bytheir peers, and the coaching staff could not be happier with the threeyoung men that were chosen,” said Womack. “These are three quality youngmen, terrific young men, who will proved the kind leadership that is needed forour program.”

RETURNING TRIO WITH HONORS: Virginia returns a trio of players whowere honored or recognized for their stellar play from the 2002 season.Tri-captain CF Chris Sweet was a 2002 Major League Baseball Draft Pick, starting RHP Jeff Kamrath was a 2002 Second Team All-ACC selection, and SS Mark Reynolds was named a 2002 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.

UVA MORE THAN TRIPLED ITS 2002 HOME ATTENDANCE FROMPREVIOUS SEASON: Thanks in part to the brand new UVa Baseball Stadium,Virginia more than tripled its home attendance in 2002 from its 2001 totals. In2002, UVa averaged 632 spectators after averaging only 198 spectators in 2001.The Cavaliers averaged 434 more spectators per game in 2002 than they did in 2001.

VIRGINIA RECORDED FOUR WINS OVER RANKED OPPONENT IN 2002:Last season (2002), Virginia recorded four victories over ranked opponents in baseball.UVa defeated #1 Florida State (11-10) on March 14th, #10 Georgia Tech (5-1) onApril 26th, #19 Richmond (12-11) on April 17th and #24 North Carolina (8-3) onMarch 31st.

VIRGINIA WON FOUR WEEKEND SERIES IN 2002: Virginia won fourweekend series last year and was 4-7 overall in weekend series decisions for the2002 season. The Cavaliers won their series with Bucknell (3-0), Seton Hall (3-0),Duke (3-0) and Maryland (2-1). UVa lost its series with Florida State (1-2),North Carolina (1-2), UNC-Charlotte (0-3), Wake Forest (0-3), Georgia Tech (1-2),Clemson (0-3) and N.C. State (0-3). Through 11 weekend series, Virginia’s recordwas 14-19 overall in those contests.

BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME: Virginia’s all-time high single gameattendance figure at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium was 1,665for its game with #5 Wake Forest on April 13, 2002.

WOMACK’S COACHING NUMBERS KEEP RISING: On March 11th, 2000, Dennis Womack coached in his 1,000th career game as a head coach when Virginiafaced Eastern Michigan. Four days later (March 15), Womack earned his 500th career victoryas a head coach when Virginia defeated Princeton by the score of 5-2. Althoughthe win was just another victory to Womack, the victory marked yet another oneof his many great accomplishments as head coach of the Virginia baseball program.Womack’s overall coaching record now stands at 566-583-7 through 1156 games.

FEELS LIKE HOME: Virginia just moved into its new home, Davenport Fieldat the UVa Baseball Stadium, and will have plenty of opportunities to get usedto the surroundings in 2003. The Cavaliers will play a total of 35 home games in2003, including 34 contests at UVa Baseball Stadium. The Cavaliers will also playa “home game” on a neutral site this year when Virginia faces Virginia Tech onApril 23, 2003 in Salem, Va. at the Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. UVa andVT annually play a three-game series with one true home game, one true roadgame and one neutral site affair. The neutral site contest alternates between thetwo schools every other year as a home contest despite its neutral location. TheCavaliers are scheduled to play only 21 true road games in the 2003 regular season,with only nine contests being played at non-conference facilities.

2003 CAVALIER FIRSTS

BattingAt bat: Matt Street on 2/14 @ Auburn.Hit: Joe Koshansky on 2/14 @ Auburn.Run: Joe Koshansky on 2/14 @ Auburn.RBI: Andrew Riesenfeld on 2/14 @ Auburn.Extra-base hit: Ryan Zimmerman (double) on 2/14 @ Auburn.Double: Ryan Zimmernan on 2/14 @ Auburn.Triple: Kyle Werman on 2/15 @ Auburn.Home run: Jordan Ghrist on 2/15 @ Auburn.Base runner: Chris Sweet on 2/14 @ Auburn.Walk: Kyle Werman on 2/14 @ Auburn.Strike out: Matt Street on 2/14 @ Auburn.Hit batsman: Matt Street on 2/16 @ Auburn.Sacrifice bunt: Tom Hagan on 2/14 @ Auburn.Sacrifice fly: Mark Reynolds on 2/16 @ Auburn.Stolen base attempt: Chris Sweet on 2/14 @ Auburn.Stolen base: Matt Street on 2/14 @ Auburn.Caught stealing: Chris Sweet on 2/14 @ Auburn.

PitchingWin: Andrew Dobies on 2/24 @ Liberty.Loss: Adam Laird on 2/14 @ Auburn.Save: N/AComplete game: N/AShutout: N/AStrike out: Jeff Kamrath on 2/14 @ Auburn.Walk: Jeff Kamrath on 2/14 @ Auburn.Wild pitch: N/AHit batsman: Jeff Kamrath on 2/14 @ Auburn.Balk: N/A

FieldingPutout: Ryan Zimmerman on 2/14 @ Auburn.Assist: Scott Headd on 2/14 @ Auburn.Fielding error: Kyle Werman on 2/14 @ Auburn.

2003 BIG INNINGS

VirginiaFirst: 2, on 2/16 @ Auburn.Second: 5, on 2/14 @ Auburn.Third: 4, on 2/14 @ Auburn.Fourth: 3, on 2/16 @ Auburn, on 2/24 @ Liberty.Fifth: 3, on 2/14 @ Auburn.Sixth: 3, on 2/15 @ Auburn.Seventh: 1, on 2/24 @ Liberty.Eighth: 2, on 2/24 @ Liberty.Ninth: 3, on 2/24 @ Liberty.Tenth: N/AEleventh: N/ATwelfth: N/A

OpponentFirst: 2, on 2/15 @ Auburn, on 2/24 @ Liberty.Second: 1, on 2/14 @ Auburn, on 2/16 @ Auburn.Third: 1, on 2/15 @ Auburn, on 2/24 @ Liberty.Fourth: 8, on 2/14 @ Auburn.Fifth: 3, on 2/14 @ Auburn.Sixth: 3, on 2/16 @ Auburn.Seventh: 1, on 2/14 @ Auburn, on 2/15 @ Auburn, on 2/16 @ Auburn.Eighth: 1, on 2/14 @ Auburn, on 2/15 @ Auburn, on 2/24 @ Liberty.Ninth: 1, on 2/24 @ Liberty.Tenth: N/AEleventh: N/ATwelfth: N/A

2003 HOME RUNS

No.	Player (Runs)	Date	Opponent (Game)1.	Jordan Ghrist (1)	2/15	@ Auburn (2)2.	Tom Hagan (1)	2/24	@ Liberty (4)3.	Jordan Ghrist (1)	2/24	@ Liberty (4)

The last time Virginia …

Won 8 or more consecutive games: February 15 - March 4, 1998 (9)Won 10 or more consecutive games: March - April, 1947 (10)Lost five or more consecutive games: March 31 - April 10, 2001 (8)Scored 20 or more runs in a game: 25 @ North Carolina A&T - March 11, 2002Had 20 or more hits in a game: 23 @ Richmond - April 17, 2002Hit consecutive home runs:	Robert Word andMark Reynolds  @ James Madison  - April 2, 2002Hit three consecutive home runs: Jon Benick, Mark Rueffert andDan Street @ Virginia Tech  - April 18, 2001Shutout consecutive opponents: vs. Seton Hall (8-0 and 4-0) - March 2, 1996 (DH)Was shut out: vs. North Carolina (5-0) - March 30, 2002Was shut out in two consecutive games: @ ODU (1-0) - Feb. 24, 1999 andvs. Seton Hall (8-0) - Feb. 27, 1999Swept an ACC doubleheader: vs. Maryland - May 10, 1997Was swept in an ACC doubleheader: @ N.C. State - May 18, 2002Swept an ACC series at home: vs. Maryland - April 20-22, 2001Was swept in an ACC series at home: vs. Clemson - May 11-13, 2002Swept an ACC series on the road: @ Duke - March 22-24, 2002Was swept in an ACC series on the road: @ N.C. State - May 17-18, 2002

The last time a Cavalier …

Hit two home runs in a game: Mark Reynolds @ George Mason  - April 22, 2002Hit three home runs in a game: Dan Streetvs. Old Dominion in Charleston, S.C. - February 22, 2002Hit a grand slam: Mark Reynolds @ George Mason - April 22, 2002Hit an inside-the-park home run: N/AHit a pinch-hit home run: Rob Newton (grand slam) @ N.C. A&T - March 11, 2002Hit a game-winning home run: Mark Reynolds @ Georgia Tech  - April 26, 2002Hit for the cycle: Hunter Wyant @ High Point - March 12, 2001Had four or more hits in a game: Dan Street (5) vs. Virginia Tech - April 30, 2002Had five or more hits in a game: Dan Street (5) vs. Virginia Tech - April 30, 2002Had five or more RBI in a game: Mark Reynolds (5) @ George Mason - April 22, 2002Had six or more RBI in a game: Dan Street (6) @ Virginia Tech - April 10, 2002Had seven or more RBI in a game: Dan Street(7) vs. Old Dominion in Charleston, S.C. - February 22, 2002Stole three or more bases in a game: David Stone (3) vs. Radford - March 6, 2002Had 10 or more strike outs in a game: Brandon Creswell (11) vs. Georgia Tech - March 30, 2001Had 15 or more strike outs in a game: N/APitched a complete game: Canon Hickman (7.0) @ Penn State - May 15, 2002Pitched a nine-inning, complete-game shutout: Jeff Kamrath (9.0) @ Maryland - April 5, 2002Pitched a no-hitter: N/APitched a perfect game: N/A

ACC Series Sweeps

UVa in Charlottesville...

Clemson: May 6-7, 1972Duke: March 19-20, 1999 (2)Florida State: NeverGeorgia Tech: March 28-29, 1987 (2)Maryland: April 20-22, 2001North Carolina: May 6, 1961 (2)N.C. State: May 15, 1970 (2)Wake Forest: April 19-21, 1996

UVa on the road …

Clemson:	NeverDuke: March 22-24, 2002Florida State: NeverGeorgia Tech: April 15-16, 1980 (2)Maryland: April 27-28, 1990 (2)North Carolina: none on recordN.C. State: May 9, 1969 (2)Wake Forest: April 29, 1972 (2)

Opponent vs. UVa in Charlottesville …

Clemson:	May 11-13, 2002Duke: April 12, 1968 (2)Florida State: May 9-10, 1998Georgia Tech: March 11-13, 1994Maryland: April 18, 1979 (2)North Carolina: April 8-10, 1994N.C. State: April 17-18, 1993Wake Forest: April 12-14, 2002

Opponent vs. UVa on the road …

Clemson:	May 12-13, 2001Duke: March 13-15, 1998Florida State: March 10-11, 2001Georgia Tech: April 14-16, 2000Maryland: April 29-May 1, 1994North Carolina: April 16-18, 1999N.C. State: March 17-18, 2002Wake Forest: April 6-8, 2001