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Doolittle Strikes Out 10 as #21 Virginia Defeats Wake Forest, 3-2
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March 24, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – – Sean Doolittle struck out a career-high 10 batters and Casey Lambert picked up his fourth save of the season as No. 21 Virginia edged No. 24 Wake Forest, 3-2, Friday evening in the first game of their Atlantic Coast Conference series at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Brandon Marsh and Greg Miclat each went 2-for-3 for the Cavaliers (21-4, 5-2 ACC) who ran their home winning streak to 16 games. Wake Forest fell to 18-6 and 4-3 in the ACC.
“We knew this was going to be a tough series and game one was proof of that. Sean (Doolittle) continues to pitch well for us and we have the confidence in our bullpen to put away a close game like this one. Our bats were not completely there tonight, but our pitching was.” UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor said. “We’re finding ways to win, which is something that a good ball club does and is something we have to do in a conference as tough as this one.”
Doolittle had another good performance for the Cavaliers. He topped his career-high in strikeouts, which he set last Friday when he struck out nine against Clemson. He ended up allowing two runs on only four hits in 6 2 /3 innings to improve to 5-0 on the season. Michael Schwimer relieved him in the seventh and struck out two in one scoreless inning. Lambert earned the save after striking out two in 1 1/3 innings as UVa struck out 14 Demon Deacons in the game.
Tom Hagan and Tim Henry each added a hit for the Hoos, who finished with seven hits in the game. Matt Antonelli led Wake Forest going 2-for-4 with one RBI while Brian Shust was also 2-for-4. Brad Kledzik took the loss for Wake Forest. He gave up three runs on six hits in five innings and had five strikeouts.
Virginia scratched across the first two run s of the game in the bottom of the third. Miclat doubled down the line and scored on Tim Henry’s single up the middle. Marsh followed with a single to right field on a pitch-out. Doolittle’s sacrifice fly made it, 2-0.
The Cavaliers extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Miclat singled to center field and Marsh followed with a base-hit to center. After Doolittle was intentionally walked, David Adams grounded out to score Miclat as UVa led, 3-0.
Wake Forest pulled within, 3-2, in the top of the sixth. Antonelli’s RBI single brought in Andy Goff. Allan Dykstra’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded scored Eric Williams pulling the Demon Deacons within one run.
Virginia and Wake Forest will continue their three-game series Saturday at 4 p.m. Freshman right-hander Jacob Thompson (5-0, 2.11 ERA) will start for UVa while Wake Forest will counter with Eric Niesen. The final two games of the series can be heard on WINA 1070 AM in Charlottesville.