Virginia Rolls To Series Deciding Victory Over Marist, 10-5
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March 12, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team pounded out 17 hits and scored 10 runs, highlighted by a pair of 3-for-5 performances by Ryan Zimmerman and Tim Henry, en route to a 10-5 victory over the Marist Red Foxes in the second contest of a three-game series at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Virginia’s Matt Avery picked up his third win of the season on the mound and Casey Lambert recorded his fifth save of the year as UVa secured the weekend series after also defeating Marist 3-0 in game one on Friday.
“Today was a real offensive day. The wind was blowing out really strong and it was a real tough day to pitch and that showed with the number of runs on the scoreboard,” said UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “Ryan Zimmerman really had a breakout day today and that was great to see. I think that is the best he has swung the bat this year. A lot of guys had good offensive days today. Tim Henry also had three hits and a lot of guys contributed to the success. We have a great opportunity to come out here tomorrow with a chance to get a home sweep here in our ten-game home stand.”
Virginia wasted no time getting on the scoreboard and took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Cavaliers’ Ryan Zimmerman started things off by hitting a solo home run to left field to drive in the first run of the game. Zimmerman’s home run was his first of the season and the second of his career. One batter later, Sean Doolittle doubled off the left field wall and scored a run in UVa’s next at-bat on Brandon Guyer’s RBI-single to center field to give Virginia a two-run advantage.
In the bottom of the third inning, Zimmerman drove in two more runs for the Cavaliers and made it a 4-0 ballgame after connecting on a two-run RBI-triple to deep center field. Zimmerman’s triple, his second of the season, drove in both Tim Henry and Matt Street after the duo singled to reach base.
The Cavaliers held onto their 4-0 lead until the top of the sixth inning when Marist plated three runs to pull within one of UVa at 4-3. The Red Foxes’ Thomas Ciccarone and Keith Brachold each reached base before Ciccarone scored Marist’s first run of the game following a Cavalier error. Three batters later, the Red Foxes’ Kevin Grauer drove in a pair of runs with a two-run RBI-single up the middle to score Brachold and Kevin Buck to make it 4-3.
Leading by just a run, the Cavaliers exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and extended their lead to 8-3. Scott Headd made it a 5-3 ballgame when he hit a solo home run to left field before Henry connected on a two-run RBI-triple to drive in both Mike Campagna and Kyle Werman to make the score 7-3. Matt Street later doubled to drive in Henry to give UVa a five-run cushion at 8-3.
Marist fought back and cut UVa’s lead to 8-5 by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning following a pair of RBI-singles by Brachold and Buck. But the Cavaliers answered again and scored two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 10-5 lead when Werman doubled and scored on a RBI-singled by Henry, before Henry later scored a run himself on a wild pitch.
The Cavaliers’ Avery (3-2) picked up the win and allowed three unearned runs on three hits and struck out a game-high five batters. Lambert worked 2.2 scoreless innings and allowed three hits to go along with three strikeouts to gather the save. Lambert’s saves was the 13th of his career and ties him for second all-time at UVa for most saves in a career with Todd Ruyak (1989-92).
Marist starting pitcher George Heath (0-2) last just 3.0 innings and surrendered four runs on seven hits in a losing effort.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 12-6 overall. The loss drops Marist’s record to 1-7 on the season. The Cavaliers now lead the series two games to none.
Virginia and Marist will return to action on Sunday, March 13th when the Cavaliers and Red Foxes play the third and final contest of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —