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Another Comeback Victory Sparks #15 Virginia Past #4 Miami, 4-3
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The #15 ranked University of Virginia baseball team didn’t have a lead in its three-game series against the #4 ranked Miami Hurricanes until the top of the ninth inning in the final game. But that lead was enough for the Cavaliers to spring a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Hurricanes in the third and final contest of a three-game series at Mark Light Field. UVa fought back from a deficit of 2-0 to tie the game at 2-2 and came back again from a 3-2 deficit to post two unanswered runs in the ninth, the later being the game-winner.
Miami scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning and took a 1-0 lead when Jim Burt reached base following a walk and scored a run two batters later on a RBI-single to center field by Gaby Sanchez. The Hurricanes extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Burt doubled down the left field line and scored a run in UM’s next at-bat on a RBI-single up the middle by Brian Barton.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Virginia scored its first run of the game and cut Miami’s lead in half at 2-1 when the Cavaliers made a two-out rally. Scott Headd walked before Kyle Werman reached base on an error to put runners on first and second base with two outs. In UVa’s next at-bat, Tom Hagan connected on a RBI-single to left field that plated Headd to pull the Cavaliers within one run.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Virginia worked its way out of a big jam when Miami had the bases loaded and only one out, but grounded into a doubled play to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, UVa got things going when Headd doubled down the left field line before advancing to third base on a two-base bunt by Kyle Werman. Werman laid down a bunt to shortstop and no UM player covered the bag at second, so Werman advanced to second base on the play to put runners on second and third base with no outs. Two batters later, UVa tied the game at 2-2 when Matt Street’s sacrifice fly to center field drove in Headd from third base.
The Hurricanes broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning when Joey Hooft reached base on a bunt singled before he scored a run three batters later on a RBI-single to right field by Adam Ricks.
But in the top of the ninth inning, Virginia made one of its usual comeback runs and scored two runs to take its first lead of the series at 4-3. After a leadoff walk by Headd, he scored the game-tying run two batters later on a RBI-single to left-center field by Hagan. After a Miami error allowed Hagan to advance to second base, he scored the go-ahead run on a RBI-single by Street to give the Cavaliers a 4-3 lead.
UVa starting pitcher Joe Koshansky (7-1) pitched a complete game (9.0 innings) and allowed just three runs on eight hits to go along with six strikeouts. Miami starting pitcher Brandon Camardese went 6.1 innings in a no-decision and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out six batters. Closer George Huguet (0-1) took the loss and allowed his first runs of the season (two runs, one earned) in 2.1 innings of action.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 35-9 overall. The loss drops Miami’s record to 30-9 on the season. The Hurricanes won the series two games to one after winning games one and two (8-0 & 22-3) on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
The Cavaliers will return to home action on Tuesday, April 27th when Virginia hosts the Radford Highlanders in a non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —