Ballard's No-Hitter Completes #17 Virginia's Sweep of Eagles, 5-0

April 16, 2006

Box Score | Video Highlights

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – – Mike Ballard tossed a no-hitter as No. 17 Virginia completed a three-game sweep of Boston College, 5-0, Sunday afternoon at Davenport Field in front of 2,077 fans. Ballard threw what is believed to be Virginia’s first no-hitter since 1974. David Adams, Brandon Guyer and Patrick Wingfield each had two hits for Virginia (31-9, 11-7 ACC) which moved into a tie for second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division and improved to 23-2 at Davenport Field.

“That was a memorable game for Mike (Ballard) and our team,” UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor said. “It’s hard to sweep any team especially in the ACC. We wanted to play well today. Mike’s command was really good and our defense made so many good plays behind him. I’m just really excited for him and our guys.”

Ballard (6-2) pitched his second complete game of the season. He walked two and hit one of the 31 batters he faced as Boston College (18-18-1, 4-14 ACC) had only four base runners in the game. He struck out three batters. Virginia’s last no-hitter came during the 1974 season. Barry Hollar no-hit Mansfield State in a 4-1 Cavalier win on Mar. 27, 1974. Ned Turnbull no-hit NC State in a 4-0 Cavalier victory on Apr. 22, 1966 prior to Hollar’s. Ballard’s complete game performance was also the sixth shutout of the season for UVa’s pitching staff and first solo shutout by a Virginia pitcher. The other five had been combined shutouts.

“I really wasn’t thinking about it,” Ballard said. “I wanted to pitch well and give our team a chance to win. The defense behind me did such a great job. Coach (Karl) Kuhn and Beau (Seabury) called a great game and I tried to execute what they called. This will definitely be a day that I remember.”

Guyer ended the game going 2-for-4 with two runs, two doubles and an RBI. Adams was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run while Wingfield capped off a 4-for-6 series with a 2-for-2 effort and an RBI on Sunday. Tim Henry and Beau Seabury each had a hit and an RBI for the Cavaliers, who finished with eight hits.

Ballard took the no-hitter into the ninth inning. After Pete Frates flied out to center field, Johnny Ayers grounded out to the shortstop for the second out of the inning. Ryan Hutchinson drew a walk on a full-count before Jared McGuire reached on an error. Shawn McGill flied out to right field to end the game.

Henry’s RBI double down the right field line gave Virginia a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Wingfield’s RBI double in the bottom of the fourth put the Cavaliers ahead, 2-0. Guyer’s second double of the game scored Adams in the bottom of the sixth as UVa led, 3-0. Seabury’s single through the left side brought in Guyer for a 4-0 Hoo lead.

Virginia scored its final run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from Adams.

Virginia wraps up its five-game home stand Tuesday when the Cavs host in-state foe VMI at 7 p.m.

Game Notes: Virginia’s pitching staff posted a 0.67 ERA in three games against Boston College. UVa pitchers struck out 15 batters in 27 innings while holding BC to a .167 batting average … Ballard pitched the third complete game of his career and second of the season … UVa hit .295 in the series. Patrick Wingfield hit .667 (4-for-6) with two doubles and two runs batted in … Tim Henry had five hits in the series and Tom Hagan was 3-for-9 with six RBIs … Henry extended his hitting streak to 10 games … Virginia entered the weekend series as the only team in the nation ranked in the Top 10 in the national statistics in both team ERA and batting average. UVa lowered its ERA to 2.51 and now has a .334 batting average … The no-hitter was the first that third-year head coach Brian O’Connor has ever been a part of as a coach or college player … UVa pitching coach Karl Kuhn coached his second no-hitter and caught one as a player in college.