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Virginia Rallies Late To Top Duke, 6-5
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April 3, 2004
DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Virginia baseball team turned a 5-3 deficit into a 6-5 victory by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning to post a win over the Duke Blue Devils in the second contest of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Jack Coombs Field. The Cavaliers fought back twice to retake the lead, with the second time paving the way to a one-run victory. The win gives Virginia the series victory by taking a two games to none lead after the Cavaliers posted an 8-1 win in game one of the series on Friday.
Virginia plated the first run of the game in the top of the second inning and took a 1-0 lead when Matt Dunn singled up the middle to reach base, stole second base, then scored on a RBI-double down the left field line by Scott Headd.
Duke responded and took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Mike Miello (walk) and Bryan Smith (single) reached base before both base runners scored a run on a passed ball that found its way to the backstop to allow both runs to score a run.
UVa answered right back in the top of the third inning and regained the lead at 3-2 when Matt Street singled and Mark Reynolds was hit by a pitch before each base runner scored on consecutive RBI following a single by Ryan Zimmerman and a fielder’s choice by Joe Koshansky.
But the Blue Devils came back and scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. Adam Murray walked and later scored from third base on a double play before Smith was hit by a pitch, stole second base and then scored a run on a RBI-single by Brian Hernandez.
Duke would extend its lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning after Javier Socorro singled and scored the Blue Devils’ final run of the game two batters later on a RBI-single by teammate Tim Layden.
Duke would carry its two-run lead into the top of the eighth inning before the Cavaliers scored three unanswered runs to take the lead for good. Virginia started the side off with three consecutive singles and was sparked by a pair of RBI-singles by Zimmerman and Josh Darby to drive in two of the three runs in the inning.
The Cavaliers’ Shooter Starr (1-0) pitched just 0.1 inning, but it was enough to pick up the win after he struck out one of the three batters he faced. Casey Lambert posted his second save of the season after he pitched 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings in relief.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 24-7 overall, 7-4 in the ACC. The loss drops Duke’s record to 15-16 overall, 3-5 in the conference.
The Cavaliers and Blue Devils will return to action on Sunday, April 4th to play the third and final contest of the three-game ACC series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 noon at Duke’s Jack Coombs Field.
— UVa —