Six-Run First Propels UVa to Sunday Win, Series Sweep

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia baseball team piled up six runs in the first inning, which was more than enough as the Cavaliers posted an 11-1 win over Bucknell Sunday afternoon at Davenport Field to sweep the four-game series. Virginia’s pitching was stellar all weekend, allowing just two runs and 20 hits while recording a miniscule 0.25 ERA.

Jarrett Parker (So., Stafford, Va.) had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-5 while falling just short of the cycle. He had a double, triple and his first career home run. Franco Valdes (Jr., Miami, Fla.) added a home run and three RBI, while Tyler Cannon (Jr., Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) had two hits and two RBI.

Jeff Lorick (Jr., Duluth, Ga.) started for Virginia and went five innings, allowing just an earned run, three hits and two walks while striking out three in earning his first win of the season. Robert Morey (So., Virginia Beach, Va.) and Matt Packer (Jr., Germantown, Tenn.) combined to shut the Bison out on just three hits over the final four innings.

Bucknell starter Andrew Clarke did not survive Virginia’s six run first. He lasted one-third of an inning and gave up six runs (five earned), four hits and a walk.

Parker led off the Cavaliers’ half of the first inning with a solo home run to right-center. It was Virginia’s first home run to lead off a game since Mark Reynolds hit a leadoff home run at Liberty on May 18, 2004. Phil Gosselin (So., West Chester, Pa.) then reached on an error and moved up when Danny Hultzen (Fr., Bethesda, Md.) walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a triple by Dan Grovatt (So., Tabernacle, N.J.). One out later, Grovatt scored on a Tyler Cannon (Jr., Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) single.

Valdes then ripped a towering blast over the right-center field wall to score Cannon and give the Cavaliers a 6-0 advantage. It was Valdes’ second long ball of the weekend and the Cavaliers’ sixth of the weekend.

Bucknell scored its first earned run of the series in the fourth inning when Andy Brouse led off with a home run over the bleachers in left field. The Bison had gone 30 straight innings without scoring an earned run.

The Cavaliers added a run in the fifth inning on a Cannon single to plate Hultzen, who doubled to lead off the inning.

UVa scored four runs in the seventh inning, with a rarity three sacrifice flies. Steven Proscia (Fr., Suffern, N.Y.) started the scoring with a double to score Shane Halley (Fr., Burke, Va.). Proscia finished the weekend with a team-high eight hits and seven RBI.

Pinch-hitter John Bivens (Jr., Disputanta, Va.) then hit a sacrifice fly which was dropped by the center fielder for an error. Valdes followed with a sacrifice fly and one out later, Jared King (Fr., Radford, Va.) hit a sacrifice fly to give UVa an 11-1 advantage.

Virginia continues its 11-game homestand at 4 p.m. Tuesday when it welcomes William and Mary to Davenport Field.