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Virginia Wins Its Seventh Consecutive Game Following 4-1 Victory Over Maryland
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March 18, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team won its Atlantic Coast Conference home-opener at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium against the Maryland Terrapins by the score of 4-1. In taking the series opener, UVa (15-6 overall, 1-3 ACC) also recorded its first ACC win of the season and the Cavaliers won their season-high seventh consecutive game this season. Maryland fell to 10-8 overall, 3-4 in the ACC. UVa starting pitcher Mike Ballard set the pace for the game, pitching 9.0 nine innings allowed just one run. UVa catcher Scott Headd (2-for-3, RBI, run) and shortstop Mike Campagna (2-for-3, run) highlighted the Cavaliers at the plate.
“Friday night games in the ACC are critical to win at home, because when you win the first game, you have a chance to take two or maybe all three games,” said UVa head coach, Brian O’Connor. “Mike Ballard was tremendous tonight. To get a complete game out of your Friday night starter is huge and it was pivotal for the rest of the weekend. Tonight, the offense wasn’t spectacular. But (Maryland starting pitcher) Chris Clem is a very good pitcher. We were able to piece together some runs and get some clutch hits with two outs.”
Virginia jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of play. UVa’s Tim Henry led off the bottom of the inning with a single to left field before advancing to second on a fielder’s choice. He then scored from second base in the Cavaliers’ next at-bat on Ryan Zimmerman’s RBI-single through the right side.
The Cavaliers continued where they left off in the first inning, scoring another run in the bottom of the second to go ahead 2-0. Virginia’s Brandon Guyer led off the inning with a double down the left field line and came around to score a run one batter later on a RBI-single to right field by Headd.
After a quiet three innings, the Cavaliers generated some more offense in the bottom of the sixth inning and added two runs to increase their lead to 4-0. Headd got things started when he singled up the middle before advancing to second on a groundball fielder’s choice. Campagna then singled off the pitcher’s glove to advanced Headd to third. With two outs in the inning, Headd scored the third run of the ballgame off Kyle Werman’s RBI-single down the right field line to make it 3-0. Virginia added its second run of the inning when Campagna came in to score on a fielding error by Maryland’s Matt Maropis to push the Cavaliers’ lead to 4-0.
The Terrapins responded in their next at-bat in the top of the seventh and scored a run to cut Virginia’s lead to 4-1. With one out in the inning, Maryland’s Truan Mehl singled to centerfield before Will Frazier walked to put runners at first and second. The Terrapins’ Jordan Wilson then singled to drive in the Mehl to give Maryland its first run of the ballgame. But that would be all the scoring the Terrapins would manage as the Cavaliers posted the 4-1 victory.
UVa starting pitcher Ballard recorded the win, improving his record to 5-1 on the season. He allowed one run on five hits and struck out a game-high five batters through nine innings. Maryland’s Clem (1-2) took the loss despite going 8.0 strong innings. He allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits and struck out four batters.
The Cavaliers and Terrapins will return to action on Saturday, March 19th when the two teams play the second contest of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —