No. 9 Cavaliers Knock off Top-Ranked UNC, 4-1
Story Links
May 12, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – – Sean Doolittle struck out five in 6.2 scoreless innings for his ninth win of the season while Brandon Marsh and David Adams each had two hits as No. 9 Virginia (40-10, 17-8 ACC) knocked off No. 1 North Carolina, 4-1, Friday night in front of a record crowd of 2,588 fans at Davenport Field in the Atlantic Coast Conference series opener. Casey Lambert picked up his eighth save of the season while Virginia won its 40th game of the season – the Cavaliers’ school record third straight 40-win season. Virginia moved to 27-2 at home this season.
“What a great way to start off such a big weekend in conference play,” UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor said. “Our guys stayed focus during this 10-day break. Sean (Doolittle) battled one of the top pitchers in the nation and did what he’s done for us all season. Our hitters stayed patient which led to us scoring runs. This crowd was great and they played a big part in tonight’s win.”
Doolittle (9-1) now has 27 strikeouts in his last three starts. He held UNC to four hits. Michael Schwimer pitched two innings before Lambert registered the final out of the game. Schwimer allowed the one run on two hits and added a strikeout. Andrew Miller (10-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he allowed three runs, one earned, on seven hits in 6.1 innings for North Carolina (40-10, 18-7 ACC). He struck out eight.
Marsh and Adams both finished 2-for-4 for the Cavaliers. Mike Cavasinni led the Tar Heels going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Virginia out-hit the Tar Heels, 9-7.
Adams’ RBI double scored Marsh in the bottom of the seventh putting Virginia ahead, 3-0. Patrick Wingfield followed with an RBI single through the right side putting the Cavaliers ahead, 4-0.
North Carolina broke the shutout in the top of the ninth. Jay Cox doubled and scored on Mike Cavasinni’s RBI single through the right side to make it, 4-1.
North Carolina’s second throwing error led to UVa’s second run of the game. With runners on first and second, Marsh reached on a fielder’s choice when the Tar Heels couldn’t turn a double play. Beau Seabury ended up scoring on the errant throw to put the Hoos ahead, 2-0, in the
Virginia jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. After Hagan was hit by a pitch and Jeremy Farrell singled, both took off on a double steal attempt. Hagan scored on a throwing error by catcher Benji Johnson putting the Cavaliers ahead, 1-0.
Virginia and North Carolina continue their series at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Freshman right-hander Jacob Thompson will start for the Cavaliers. He’ll face UNC RHP Robert Woodard. Saturday’s game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network by FSN South.