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Virginia Baseball Routs Norfolk State, 13-1
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April 12, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Cavaliers (22-11) defeated the Norfolk State Spartans (9-28) by the score of 13-1 in an impressive offensive performance in a mid-week non-conference game at Davenport Field at UVa Baseball Stadium. Virginia exploded for 13 runs on 16 hits as 10 different Wahoos recorded hits in the contest. Six Cavaliers posted multiple-hit games as UVa rolled to its second highest scoring total this season. Virginia used a decisive fourth inning to its advantage to plate four runs and UVa starting pitcher Robert Poutier went 6.0 scoreless innings to continue his impressive pitching performances this season.
“Today was a good win for us, it was a good offensive day,” said UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “Our guys came out really swinging the bats well and played good defense. Robert Poutier was great again in another start, and that was great to see.”
The Cavaliers’ offense exploded in the bottom of the second inning for four runs on six hits. UVa’s Brandon Guyer got things started when tripled to left-center field before scoring a run in Virginia’s next at bat on Josh Darby’s RBI-singled up the middle to make it 1-0. Scott Headd then drove a single through the left side before Tom Hagan connected on a RBI-single through the left side to plate Darby to make it 2-0. After Headd and Hagan advanced to second and third base on a fielding error by the Norfolk State, Headd came in to score the third run of the inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly to right field by Kyle Werman. One batter later, Tim Henry reached first base on a RBI infield single to score Hagan, giving the Cavaliers a 4-0 lead.
Virginia tacked on another run to increase its lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Ryan Zimmerman singled up the before scoring a run three batters later on another RBI-single by Darby, this time through the right side.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cavaliers tacked on two more runs to take a 7-0 lead after Werman and Henry posted back-to-back singles before each base runner scored on RBI-singles by Henry and Sean Doolittle, respectively.
Virginia recorded another four-run side in the bottom of the sixth inning to increase their lead to 11-0. The innings was highlighted by four consecutive Cavaliers reaching base (Matt Street, Zimmerman, Anthony Martinez and Guyer) and each base runner eventually came around to score a run.
Virginia added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to build a 13-0 lead thanks to one swing of the bat by Martinez. After Mike Campagna reached base after being hit-by-pitch, Martinez crushed a two-run home run over the top of the scoreboard in left field to give UVa a 13-run advantage. Martinez’s home run was the first of his collegiate career.
The Spartans scored their lone run of the game in the top of the ninth inning and made the score 13-1. With two outs in the inning, pinch-hitter Christopher Dorney singled and advanced to second on Ernie Banks’ single. In NSU’s next at-bat, Dorney came around to score Norfolk State’s lone run of the game on Juan Serrano’s bloop-single over first base to avoid the shutout. But that would be all the scoring the Spartans would muster as the Cavaliers posted the 12-run victory.
UVa starting pitcher Poutier (2-1) picked up the win and went 6.0 innings and allowed no runs on just two hits and struck out one batter. For the season, Poutier has pitched 30.0 innings and has a 0.30 ERA. He has allowed just 16 hits while striking out 18 batters and is holding opposing hitters to a .158 batting average on the season.
Virginia’s trio of Ryan Ouellette, Adam Laird and Jordan Ellis each pitched an inning of relief duty. Ouellette and Laird both recorded a strikeout, while Ellis made his first collegiate appearance as a Cavalier in his first outing this season.
Norfolk State starting pitcher Luke Foss (0-4) took the loss allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits and struck out two batters.
With the win, Virginia’s record improves to 22-11 overall on the season. The loss drops Norfolk State’s record to 9-28 overall on the year.
Virginia will return to home action on Wednesday, April 13th when the Cavaliers host the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks in a non-conference doubleheader. The first contest of the DH is scheduled to be a nine-inning game with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 PM. The second contest will be a seven-inning game and will start 30 minutes after the completion of the first contest. Both games will be played at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —