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Virginia Baseball Throttles Central Connecticut State, 17-1
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March 5, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team defeated the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils by the score of 17-1 in the first contest of a three-game, non-conference series in front of 803 spectators at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. The Cavaliers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after one inning of play and never looked back as UVa cruised to a 16-run win. Virginia’s pounded out a season-high 22 hits which was the most hits for UVa since the Cavaliers tallied 23 hits against Duke back on March 21st, 2003. The victory gives Virginia its 11th win this season, making the Cavaliers 11-1 on the year. UVa’s 11-1 start this season is the best known start to a year for the Virginia baseball program.
UVa plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead, highlighted by RBI-singles by Joe Koshansky, Matt Dunn, Tom Hagan and a RBI ground-out by Ryan Zimmerman. The Cavaliers tacked on another run in the bottom of the second to make it a 5-0 ballgame before scoring three more runs in the bottom of the third inning to increase the lead to 8-0. Koshansky hit his fifth home run of the season (a solo shot to right-center field) and Tim Henry connected on a two-run triple to center field to drive in the three runs.
CCSU got on the scoreboard and posted its only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning when Brad Muldoon walked before scoring a run in the Blue Devils’ next at-bat on a RBI-double to left-center field by teammate Keith Stegbauer. The run made it an 8-1 contest. But that would be as close as Central Connecticut State would get the rest of the way, as the Cavaliers went on to score nine unanswered runs to close out the contest.
Virginia posted four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 12-1 lead before scoring five more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to blow the game wide open at 17-1. Eleven difference Cavaliers recorded a hit, including six different players who finished with multiple-hit games. Virginia’s Paul Gillispie had a career day as he went 4-for-4 at the plate and scored three runs. Koshansky was also perfect at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. UVa’s margin of victory tied its season-high total of 16-runs after also claiming a 17-1 victory over Seton Hall earlier this season on February 28th.
UVa’s starting pitcher Andrew Dobies (3-0) remained perfect on the year and picked up the win after going 6.0 innings. He allowed just one run on two hits and struck out a game-high seven batters, including six of CCSU’s first seven hitters that stepped to the plate. The Blue Devils’ Chris Skrypack (0-1) took the loss after giving up 12 runs on 13 hits in 5.0 innings of work. He struck out two batters.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 11-1 overall. The loss drops Central Connecticut State to 1-2 on the season. UVa now holds a 1-0 lead in the three-game series with CCSU.
The Cavaliers and Blue Devils will return to action on Saturday, March 6th when Virginia host Central Connecticut State in the second contest of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —