/
.
Virginia Defeats #4 Georgia Tech 4-2 In Game One Of ACC Series, Lambert Sets UVa Single Season Saves Record In Victory
Story Links
April 23, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Cavaliers (27-13, 7-10 ACC) defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (30-8, 16-3 ACC) by the score of 4-2 in the first contest of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. In a game that began on Friday and was halted and resumed on Saturday, the Cavaliers turned an early 1-0 deficit into a three-run victory as Virginia defeated Georgia Tech for the fourth consecutive time dating back to a three-game sweep of the Yellow Jackets on March 12-14, 2004 in Atlanta, Ga.
UVa’s Casey Lambert closed out a well-pitched game by teammates Matt Avery (Friday) and Jeff Kamrath (today) and posted his ninth saves this season which is a new Virginia school record for most saves in a single season. Lambert broke the former school record of eight saves, a record he tied himself last year. He now has 17 career saves which is one shy of tying the school record for most saves in a career at UVa.
Georgia Tech scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning when Mike Trapani doubled down the left field line. One batter later, Danny Payne advanced Trapani to third base with a sacrifice bunt. Then, with two outs and Trapani on third, he scored a run on a balk by UVa’s Avery to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead.
Virginia answered back in the bottom of the third inning and took its first lead by scoring two runs to make the score 2-1. With two outs and no one on base, Tim Henry drew a walk. He then stole second base and later scored on Matt Street’s RBI single to right field. Street advanced to second base on the throw home from the right fielder and then scored a run himself on a Yellow Jacket throwing error on the play to give UVa a one-run lead.
In the middle of the fourth inning and Virginia leading 2-1, there was a lightning and rain delay that lasted nearly two hours before the game was halted.
When the game resumed on Saturday in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cavaliers increased their lead to 3-1 when Brandon Guyer and Tom Hagan both walked to put runners on first and second base before Scott Headd singled through the left side to drive in Guyer to give Virginia a two-run lead.
UVa extended its lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Street hit a one-out double to left center field before scoring a run two batters later on a RBI-single through the right side by Sean Doolittle.
Georgia Tech cut Virginia’s lead in half at 4-2 when the Yellow Jackets mounted a two-out rally in the top of the eighth inning. After back-to-back singles by Jeremy Slayden and Matt Wieters to put runners on the corners, Jeff Kindel connected on a RBI-single up the middle to dive in Slayden to make it a 4-2 ballgame. But that would be as close as Georgia Tech would get as Virginia claimed the series opening win.
UVa’s Avery started on Friday night and went 4.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits and struck out a game-high six batters. Kamrath (7-3) earned the win and picked up on Saturday where Avery left off and went 4.0 innings and allowed one run on six hits and struck out five batters. Lambert tossed a scoreless inning in relief duty and struck out two batters to close out the side. The Cavalier pitching staff posted 13 strikeouts combined in the contest.
GT starting pitcher Lee Hyde (5-2) took the loss after going 4.1 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and struck out two batters. Hyde started on Friday evening and came back on the mound and resumed duty on Saturday.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 27-13 overall, 7-10 in the ACC. The loss drops Georgia Tech’s record to 30-8 overall, 16-3 in the ACC. The Cavaliers now lead the series one game to none.
Virginia and Georgia Tech will return to action later tonight (Saturday, April 23rd) when the two teams play the second contest of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —