Story Links
March 29, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team recorded its14th consecutive home victory by posting a 4-2 win over the MarylandTerrapins in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest at Davenport Field at theUVa Baseball Stadium. With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighthinning, Virginia’s Joe Koshansky hit a two-run home to pace the Cavaliers toa 14-0 mark at home.
Virginia scored the first run of the game and took a 1-0 lead in the bottomof the fourth inning when Mark Reynolds started things off with a bunt-singleto third base before scoring a run for the Cavaliers three batters later on aRBI-single through the left side by teammate Chris Sweet.
Maryland tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning by scoring itsfirst run of the series when Daryl Whitmer walked and then scored a run twobatters on a RBI sacrifice fly to left field by Anthony Buffone. However,Virginia regained the lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning when UVa’sReynolds singled before coming around to score a run on a RBI ground out byRyan Zimmerman.
The Terrapins tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning whenBuffone singled before Kyle George drove him in to score a run with a RBIsacrifice fly to right field three batters later. But Virginia stormed backin the bottom half of the inning and took a 4-2 lead when Koshansky connectedon a two-run home run to left field that also scored Reynolds. The home runwas Koshansky’s first of the season and the second of his career. It alsoturned out to be the game-winning hit.
The Cavaliers’ Canon Hickman (1-0) picked up his first win of the seasonafter going 1.2 innings and allowed no runs or hits. UVa starting pitcherMike Ballard went 6.0 innings and allowed just one run on six hits with fourstrikeouts. Maryland’s Chris Bowen (2-2) took the loss after surrenderingtwo runs on three hits in just 0.1 innings of action.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 17-8 overall, 5-3 in the ACC. The loss drops Maryland’s record to 6-17 overall, 0-8 in the conference.The win assures UVa of the weekend series with the Cavs staking a two gamesto none lead in the series.
The Cavaliers and Terrapins will return to action on Sunday, March 30h whenVirginia and Maryland play the final contest of the three-game ACC series.First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —