No. 1 Virginia Scores Three in Ninth, Rallies to Top Coastal Carolina

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Steven Proscia (Jr., Suffern, N.Y.) singled in John Barr (Sr., Ivyland, Pa.) with two outs in the ninth inning to complete a three-run ninth inning rally and lead the top-ranked Virginia baseball team to an 8-7 win over Coastal Carolina Wednesday night at Davenport Field.

It was a back-and-forth affair throughout the evening, as Coastal Carolina (21-12) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead before Virginia (33-3) scored five in the fourth inning. The Chanticleers chipped away before tying the game in the seventh. The teams were tied 5-5 heading to the ninth when Coastal scored a pair of runs off UVa closer Branden Kline (So., Frederick, Md.). Virginia rebounded to load the bases with none out in the bottom of the inning before Barr tied the game with a single to right and Proscia won it with a single to right-center.

Virginia’s offense racked up 16 hits in the game with no strikeouts. Virginia’s two-, three- and four-hole hitters – Barr, Hicks and Proscia – all went 3-for-5, while Jared King (Jr., Radford, Va.), Reed Gragnani (So., Richmond, Va.) and Colin Harrington (So., Johnstown, Pa.) each were 2-for-4.

Coastal Carolina got three hits and three RBI from Tommy La Stella. Taylor Motter added three hits for the Chanticleers.

Kline (2-0) notched the win after pitching the ninth. The Cavaliers used seven pitchers in the game. Virginia starting pitcher Cody Winiarski (Sr., Franksville, Wis.) worked 4.0 innings, allowing a run, three hits and a walk while striking out five.

Josh Conway (4-1) pitched the final 1.1 innings for Coastal Carolina and took the loss. He allowed three earned runs, four hits and a pair of walks. Chanticleer starter Tyler Herb worked 3.0 innings, allowing four earned runs and five hits.

Coastal struck first in the opening inning as Scott Woodward led off with a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored when La Stella doubled off the base of the right-center field wall.

After posting one hit through three innings, Virginia exploded for five runs on six hits in the fourth inning. UVa racked up four doubles in the inning. The first four Cavaliers reached via hits. Barr led off with a single and moved to third on a Hicks double. Proscia then singled into left; Barr scored easily and Hicks came home after left fielder Josh Conway misplayed the ball for an error. King followed with a double to right to plate Proscia and end the day for Herb.

Reliever Keith Hessler took over and allowed a sacrifice bunt before Gragnani and Harrington hit consecutive RBI doubles to give the Cavaliers a 5-1 lead.

The Chanticleers promptly cut the lead in half in the fourth inning. The first two batters reached base against UVa reliever Corey Hunt (Sr., Charlottesville, Va.). After a Woodward sacrifice advanced the runners, Hunt uncorked a wild pitch to score Rich Witten. La Stella grounded out to bring home Conway and make it a 5-3 game.

Coastal Carolina chopped another run from the lead in the sixth on a two-out Witten double to center which scored Tucker Frawley. The Chanticleers then got a two-out single in the seventh inning from La Stella followed by a Bowman double to right-center to tie the game.

Coastal moved ahead in the ninth inning. With one out Hayes Orton singled, and he advanced on a passed ball. La Stella followed with a double down the right-field line to plate Orton and give Coastal the 6-5 lead. Bowman then singled to right-center to score another run.

Virginia started its ninth-inning rally by loading the bases with none out. Taylor walked on a 3-2 pitch to force in a run. Barr then singled to right to score a run, but Bowman fired a perfect throw to the plate to nail Keith Werman (Jr., Vienna, Va.) at the plate with the potential winning run. A wild pitch advanced the runners, but Hicks grounded back to the mound and Taylor was thrown out at the plate. Proscia then singled to right-center to plate Barr from third with the winning run.

The Cavaliers remain home this weekend as Duke comes to town for a three-game series. The series starts at 7 p.m. Friday. The teams then will play at 4 p.m. Saturday on Military Appreciation Day; UVa will wear special uniforms Saturday in honor of our military. The series concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday.