Virginia Grinds Out 11th Consecutive Victory Following 2-1 Win Over VMI
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March 30, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Cavaliers (19-6) won their 11th consecutive game and improved to 16-1 at home by defeating the Virginia Military Institute Keydets (13-14) by the score 2-1 at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Virginia’s first-year starting pitcher Pat McAnaney posted his second win of the season and closer Casey Lambert recorded his seventh save of the year as the UVa pitching staff struck out 11 batters and allowed just four hits for the game. Both of Virginia’s runs were the result of a batter being hit by a pitch which proved to be the difference as the Cavaliers grinded out their 19th win of the season. Virginia has not lost a game since falling to Wake Forest on March 6th.
“This was a big win for us tonight going into the series with North Carolina this weekend,” said UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “I have a lot of respect for Coach Ikenberry and the VMI Keydets. They have been playing some very good baseball and they have played some great competition. This was a big win for us. Pat McAnaney threw the ball as well as he has thrown all year for us on the mound. That was really the key to our victory tonight.”
UVa started the scoring off in the bottom of the first inning by taking a 1-0 lead. The lead-off hitter, Tim Henry, was hit by a pitch in the helmet to reach first base to start the side. Henry then posted the first of his two stolen bases in the game to reach second base before later advanced to third base on a VMI error. He scored the first run of the game two batters later on a groundout by teammate Ryan Zimmerman.
UVa scored its second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and took a 2-0 lead when Mike Campagna was hit by a pitch to begin the side. One batter later, Kyle Werman singled threw the right side of the infield to advance Campagna to third base before Campagna scored the eventual game-winning run when Henry grounded out to drive him in, making the score 2-0.
The Keydets cut Virginia’s lead in half at 2-1 by scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning. VMI’s John Baber walked before teammate Shane Geisslinger singled down the right field line to put runners on the corner. One batter later, Stephen Parsons’ RBI ground out plated Baber to pull the Keydets to within one run. But that would be as close as VMI would get as UVa held on for the 2-1 victory.
UVa’s McAnaney (2-0) pitched 6.0 shutout innings and allowed just three hits to go along with a game-high six strikeouts. Sean Doolittle pitched 2.0 innings in relief and struck out five batters while Lambert pitched a scoreless side to seal the win with another save. Lambert has recorded 15 career saves in his young career and is just three saves away from tying the all-time career record for most saves at Virginia (18) in just his second year of competition.
VMI starting pitcher Mike Anton (0-3) took the loss after going 4.0 innings and allowed one runs on just one hit and struck out one batter.
Virginia will return to action on April 1-3 when UVa travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. to face the #11 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at UNC’s Boshamer Stadium.
— UVa —