No. 3 Virginia Baseball Finishes Off Series Sweep of Maryland

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 3-ranked Virginia baseball team scored four runs in the second inning and made it stand up in defeating Maryland, 4-2, Saturday afternoon in the second game of a doubleheader at Davenport Field. UVa won both games of the twinbill by 4-2 scores and swept the three-game series.

Virginia (24-2, 8-1 ACC) has won 23 of its last 24 contests with Maryland, including seven straight dating to the 2009 season. The Cavaliers pulled out the doubleheader sweep Saturday with timely two-out hitting and outstanding pitching. All eight Virginia runs Saturday scored after two batters were out, while UVa’s pitching staff limited the Terrapins (11-13, 1-8) to just 11 hits in the doubleheader. After allowing just four earned runs in the three-game series, Virginia lowered its team ERA to an even 2.00.

In the second game Saturday, Virginia starter Cody Winiarski (Sr., Franksville, Wis.) worked seven strong innings, allowing two earned runs, four hits and a walk while striking out five. He earned the win and improved to 3-1 this season. After allowing two early runs, Winiarski settled down and retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced.

Justin Thompson (Jr., Danville, Va.) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings out of the UVa bullpen before Branden Kline (So., Frederick, Md.) struck out the final two batters to notch his second save of the day and 10th of the season. Kline is the first UVa pitcher to save both ends of a doubleheader since Michael Schwimer against Stony Brook in 2008.

Maryland starter Eric Potter (2-3) lasted 1.2 innings, giving up four earned runs, three hits and three walks while striking out one in taking the loss. The Terps’ bullpen stifled UVa the rest of the way – Brady Kirkpatrick blanked the Cavaliers over 4.2 strong innings of relief, and Michael Boyden did not allow a run in the final 1.2 frames.

Both teams finished with six hits. Chris Taylor (So., Virginia Beach, Va.) went 2-for-4, including a two-run triple. Kenny Swab (Sr., Kernersville, N.C.) added a pair of hits for Virginia. Kyle Convissar led Maryland with two hits.

As they did in the first game of the doubleheader, the Terrapins jumped to an early 2-0 lead. Maryland picked up a run in the first on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Holland to score Charlie White, who doubled to lead off the game. The Terps tallied another run in the second on a two-out single by Jack Cleary to plate Convissar.

Virginia scored all the runs it needed in a four-run second inning, while quickly knocking Potter from the game. With two out and Swab on second base, Virginia put its next four batters on base. Keith Werman (Jr., Vienna, Va.) was hit by a pitch and Mitchell Shifflett (Fr., Midlothian, Va.) followed with a single up the middle. Swab scored on the play, and when the ball struck Swab as he slid across the plate, it rolled into foul territory and allowed both baserunners to advance a base. Taylor followed with a triple to left-center to give UVa the 3-2 lead. John Barr (Sr., Ivyland, Pa.) then walked. Potter was replaced by Kirkpatrick, who promptly uncorked a wild pitch to let Taylor score.

After going five innings without a hit, Maryland threatened in the eighth against UVa reliever Justin Thompson (Jr., Danville, Va.), putting runners at second and third with two outs after a wild pitch. Thompson rebounded to strike out pinch hitter Tim Kiene on a 2-2 pitch to squelch the opportunity.

The Terps got a runner to second with one out in the ninth before Kline struck out Tomo Delp swinging and Aaron Etchison looking to end the game.

Virginia is back in action at 5 p.m. Tuesday against George Washington at Davenport Field. UVa travels to Virginia Tech next weekend in ACC play.