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#7 Virginia Baseball Falls To #24 Florida State, 8-0
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May 7, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The #7 ranked University of Virginia baseball team suffered its second shutout loss of the year after dropping an 8-0 decision to the #24 ranked Florida State Seminoles in the first contest of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series. FSU’s starting pitcher Rhett James pitched a complete game shutout and UVa managed just four hits in the game, with two hits coming in the ninth inning, to take game one of the series.
The contest was played in front of a facility record crowd at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium as 2,430 spectators turned out to view the contest.
The Seminoles got on the scoreboard first with two runs in the opening frame. FSU’s Bryan Zech and Stephen Drew led off with back-to-back singles before Eddy Martinez-Esteve knocked in a run with a double to left field. Florida State’s Aaron Cheesman then plated Drew from third with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it a 2-0 ball game.
Florida State tacked on three more in the top of the third to extend the lead to 5-0. With one out, Martinez-Esteve and Cheesman were hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second base. Gibbs Chapman then scored Martinez-Esteve with a single up the middle and Cheesman advanced to third. Chapman then took second base and Cheesman scored on a delayed double steal. Chapman eventually scored a run from second base on a single by Ryne Malone to give FSU a five-run lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Seminoles put up three more runs thanks to four doubles to take an 8-0 advantage. Martinez-Esteve doubled and scored on Chapman’s double. Shane Robinson then doubled down the left field line and Chapman advanced to third. Malone’s double to right field to plate Chapman and Robinson later scored a run himself on a sacrifice fly from Matt Sauls.
UVa starting pitcher Andrew Dobies (6-2) was dealt just his second loss of the season. He went just 4.1 innings and allowed eight runs on 10 hits and struck out two batters.
FSU’s James (6-2) picked up the win after pitching a complete game (9.0 innings). He scattered four hits and struck out a game-high six batters.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 36-10 overall, 14-5 in the ACC. The victory improves Florida State’s record to 30-17 overall, 9-7 in the conference. FSU now leads the series one game to none.
Virginia and Florida State will return to action on Saturday, May 8th when the Cavaliers and Seminoles play the second contest of the three-game ACC series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —