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March 16, 2003
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Virginia baseball team dropped a heart-breaking 5-4 decision to the #4 ranked Florida State in 12 innings in front of 2,858 spectators at FSU’s Dick Howser Stadium this afternoon. The Seminoles slowly built a 3-0 lead over the Cavaliers after seven innings of play before UVa scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to take its first and only lead of the three-game series. However, Florida State scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning to eventually force extra innings. FSU scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning on a Cavalier error to pull out a one-run victory over UVa.
Both teams battled through three and a half innings of scoreless baseball before Florida State scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Seminoles scored their first run on a bases loaded ground out by Aaron Cheesman that drove in Jerrod Brown before Matt Suals connected on a RBI-single to right field one batter later that scored Eddy Martinez-Esteve.
Florida State took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Suals singled on a bunt to reach first base, advanced to second base on a UVa throwing error, reached third base on a balk, and then scored a run on a wild pitch by the Cavaliers’ Matt Avery.
Just when it appeared FSU might shutout Virginia in consecutive games, the Cavaliers erupted for four runs on six hits in the top of the eighth inning to take a 4-3 lead. It was the first and only time in the three-game series that UVa had a lead. After back-to-back hits by Paul Gillispie and Joe Koshansky to put base runners on first and second, Scott Headd hit a RBI-single to score Gillispie to make the score 3-1. Two batters later, the Cavaliers’ Matt Dunn connected on a RBI-singled to drive in Koshansky, pulling Virginia to within one run at 3-2. UVa’s Mark Reynolds then tied the game up at 3-3 when he posted a RBI-single to drive in Headd before Chris Sweet plated Dunn with a RBI-single in the Cavaliers’ next at-bat to give UVa a 4-3 lead.
However, FSU answered right back with a run of its own in the bottom of the eighth inning and tied the contest at 4-4 when Martinez-Esteve hit a two-out, solo home run to right field off of Gabe Spooner to eventually force extra innings.
After two and a half innings of extra inning play, the Seminoles scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning when Chris Hart laid down a sacrifice bunt with runners on first and second base and no outs. UVa’s Koshansky charged in from first base to field the ball, but threw an errant toss down to first base line that allowed Tony Richie (who walked to reach first base) to score the game-winning run from second base.
UVa starting pitcher Chris Gale pitched 6.0 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in a no decision. The Cavaliers used eight pitchers all together in the contest, with Scott Morgenthaler (0-1) picking up the loss after going 0.2 innings while allowing one unearned run.
FSU starting pitcher Daniel Davidson pitched 7.0 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits with five strikeouts before leaving, but also had a no decision after the Seminole’s relief pitchers couldn’t hold the lead. Daniel Hodges (3-0) picked up the win after going 4.1 innings and allowed zero runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 9-8 overall, 0-3 in the ACC. The victory improves Florida State’s record to 24-2 overall, 3-0 in the conference. The Seminoles won the three-game series (three games to none) after also posting a pair of wins on Friday (9-1) and Saturday (4-0).
The Cavaliers will return to home action on Wednesday, March 19th when Virginia takes on the William & Mary Tribe in a single game non-conference match. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM at the UVa Baseball Stadium. The Cavaliers are expected to pitch Andrew Dobies (LHP, 3-0, 4.29 ERA) against William & Mary.
— UVa —