No. 8 Cavaliers Blank William and Mary, 9-0
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Three Virginia pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout and John Hicks (Jr., Sandy Hook, Va.) went 4-for-5 with three RBI as the eighth-ranked Cavaliers defeated William and Mary 9-0 Tuesday at Davenport Field.
Kyle Crockett (Fr., Poquoson, Va.) made his first career start and was impressive, working four innings and allowing just a pair of hits and a walk while striking out six. He earned his first career win. Justin Thompson (Jr., Danville, Va.) pitched three scoreless innings, and Shane Halley (Jr., Burke, Va.) worked two perfect frames to finish off the shutout. Virginia’s pitchers continued to pound the strike zone, striking out 11 Tribe batters while walking just one. UVa pitchers have struck out 85 and walked 12 this year.
William & Mary starter Matt Wainman (0-2) pitched four innings and gave up four earned runs, six hits and two walks while striking out four. He also hit two batters.
Virginia (7-1) picked up 13 hits in the game, highlighted by Hicks’ four-hit effort. Jared King (Jr., Radford, Va.) and Reed Gragnani (So., Richmond, Va.) each had a pair of hits and scored two runs apiece. Five batters had a hit apiece for William & Mary (2-8).
The Cavaliers grabbed an early lead by scoring a run in the first inning. With one out Keith Werman (Jr., Vienna, Va.) walked. He scored an out later on a double into the left-field corner by Steven Proscia (Jr., Suffern, N.Y.).
UVa added three runs in the fourth. With one out King doubled to left-center field. He advanced to third on a single by Gragnani. Colin Harrington (So., Johnstown, Pa.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Chris Taylor (So., Virginia Beach, Va.) followed with a walk to force in a run. One out later, Hicks singled sharply into right field to plate Gragnani and Harrington and give UVa a 4-0 lead.
Virginia tacked on a run in the fifth. With one out John Barr (Sr., Ivyland, Pa.) was hit by a pitch. He moved to third on a single to right-center by King. Barr was thrown out at the plate after a grounder to second by Gragnani, but UVa scored on the next play. On the ensuing play, Gragnani was caught in a rundown between first and second, and King came running home during the play and scored before the tag was applied to Gragnani to push the lead to 5-0.
The Cavaliers scored four more runs in the eighth inning. Barr led off with a walk and moved to third on pinch-hit single by David Coleman (Sr., Richmond, Va.). Coleman then advanced on a wild pitch, and Gragnani followed with a run-scoring single to center. Harrington grounded out to bring home Coleman and one out later pinch hitter Mitchell Shifflett (Fr., Midlothian, Va.) picked up his first career hit and RBI with a single to right to plate Gragnani. Shifflett then stole second and scored on a Hicks single.
Virginia returns to Davenport Field at 4 p.m. Wednesday to take on Niagara.