No. 2 Virginia Falls to No. 14 Clemson, 7-1

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April 12, 2014

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The second-ranked Virginia baseball team had its 16-game home win streak snapped with a 7-1 loss to No. 14 Clemson Saturday afternoon in front of a season-high crowd of 4,886 at Davenport Field. The loss also broke a 13-game ACC home win streak for Virginia (29-6, 13-4 ACC), which gave up more than four runs for just the third time this season.

Virginia starting pitcher Josh Sborz (So., McLean, Va.) worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs, one hit and three walks while striking out five. Sborz (3-2) did not allow a hit until the sixth inning as UVa took a no-hitter into the sixth for the third time this year in ACC play.

Clemson starting pitcher Daniel Gossett stymied the Cavaliers all day and surrendered just five hits in seven shutout innings. He walked three and struck out four.

After going hitless through the first five innings, Clemson (21-13, 10-6) found its stroke in the sixth inning. Jay Baum drew a leadoff walk and advanced on a sacrifice. After Tyler Slaton walked, Tyler Krieger singled to center and both runners moved up on the throw home. Connor Jones (Fr., Chesapeake, Va.) took over on the mound and gave up a run-scoring single to Garrett Boulware and both runners advanced when the throw in sailed over the cutoff man. Two batters later, Chris Okey hit a sacrifice fly to center to give Clemson a 3-0 lead.

The Tigers blew the game open with a four-run seventh inning. Baum doubled to lead off and following a UVa fielding error, Slaton and Krieger hit consecutive RBI singles. Boulware followed with a two-run home run into the left-field bleachers to give Clemson a commanding 7-0 advantage.

UVa broke up the shutout in the eighth inning when Joe McCarthy (So., Scranton, Pa.) grounded into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to bring home Branden Cogswell (Jr., Ballston Lake, N.Y.). UVa again loaded the bases with one out before Clemson closer Matt Campbell entered to get the final two outs with no further damage.

The rubber game of the series is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is available in the University Hall and McCue Center lots as well as the Emmet/Ivy Garage. Parking will not be available in the JPJ lot on Sunday because of the Monster Trucks event.