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April 17, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – – Virginia senior lefty Mike Ballard was tabbed Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week announced by the league office Monday and was named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball.
Ballard tossed a complete-game no-hitter as Virginia shut out Boston College, 5-0, in the series finale on Sunday to give the Cavaliers the series sweep. The senior southpaw registered three strikeouts, two walks and a hit-by-pitch as he allowed just four base runners of the 31 batters he faced. Ballard retired 17 straight batters in the first 5.2 innings before allowing a base runner in the sixth. It was Ballard’s second complete game of the season and third of his career. On the season, the Virginia Beach, Va., native is 6-2 with a 2.30 ERA while holding the opposition to a .207 batting average.
Ballard’s no-hitter actually is the first by a Cavalier since the 1974 season. Barry Hollar pitched a no-hitter on Mar. 27, 1974 in a 4-1 UVa win over Mansfield State. Ned Turnbull tossed a no-hitter on Apr. 22, 1966 in a 4-0 win over NC State.
Wake Forest’s Evan Ocheltree was name ACC Player of the Week after batting .565 (13-for-23) with five home runs, nine RBI, and four straight three-hit games as Wake Forest posted a 4-1 record on the week.