Virginia Hosts VMI in Home Opener Tuesday

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia will open its open its home slate one day earlier than scheduled with a non-conference matchup against VMI on Tuesday (Feb. 19) at Disharoon Park. The contest will air live on ACC Network Extra.
 
GAME COVERAGE: ACC Network Extra is available to authenticated subscribers of ESPN3 through WatchESPN and the ESPN app. will be available on VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get in-game updates on the match’s live stats feed on VirginiaSports.com and on the baseball official twitter page (@UVABaseball)
 
TICKETS AVAILABLE

Fans can purchase tickets at a discounted rate in advance by going online to VirginiaSports.com/Tickets. For all regular season home games, available reserved single-game tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 online or via mobile devices. Tickets are $10 at the sport-specific ticket office on game day. General admission single-game tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the sport-specific ticket office locations on game day.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY

Consistent with policies that took effect last season, fans attending games at Disharoon Park in 2019 must adhere to the department’s clear bag policy and entrance procedures. Details of the of the policy can be found here: http://www.virginiasports.com/facilities/clear_bag_Davenport_Klockner.html

PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
VMI: LHP Johnathan Clines (1-0, 6.75 ERA, 4.0 IP, 3 BB, 6 SO)
Virginia: RHP Evan Sperling (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.2 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO)

LEADING OFF
• This marks the fourth-straight year Virginia opens up its home schedule against VMI.
• In the Brian O’Connor era (since 2004), Virginia is 12-3 it its home openers.
• Virginia went 14-4 at home against non-conference opponents in 2018 and is 32-5 against non-conference foes over the last two seasons.
• In an all-time series that dates back to 1889, Virginia is 105-32 against the Keydets. Under O’Connor, the Cavaliers hold a 11-5 edge
• Virginia was 10-4 against teams from the Commonwealth in 2018.
 
LAST SEASON VS. VMI
• The Keydets spoiled opening day last season in front of a home opener record, 3,709 fans by taking out the Cavaliers 9-4. The temperature at first pitch was 75 degrees, the warmest home opener in more than a decade for UVA.
• VMI scored the game’s first seven runs including six in the first inning.
• Virginia avenged the loss a week later with a 10-9 victory at Disharoon Park. The Cavaliers jumped out to a 10-1 advantage before Bennett Sousa put a stop to the furious comeback, pitching the two-scoreless innings to record the six-out save.
 
 MLB4 AT A GLANCE
• Virginia played three ranked foes (No. 2 Vanderbilt, No. 17 TCU & No. 24 Cal State Fullerton) in the inaugural MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament in Scottdale, Ariz. to open the 2019 season.
• It marked the first time in school history Virginia played three-ranked opponents to start a season and Vanderbilt was the highest ranked team to open the season since 2010 when it started up with a three-game series at No. 11 East Carolina.
• Against Vanderbilt, an eight-run third inning doomed Virginia in a 15-9 loss in a game that aired live on MLB Network. On Saturday against TCU, the Cavaliers fell behind 7-0 after the first inning and could not recover. In the tournament finale, Cal State Fullerton scored three runs in the top of the ninth to wipe away a 5-3 Virginia advantage.
• Virginia is winless through its first three games for the first time since 2003 when it dropped its first three games at Auburn.
 
OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
• Tanner Morris leads the team with six hits in his first 13 at bats (.462). His batting average is the 12th highest in the ACC through the first three games. Dating back to last season he has a four-game hit streak and has reached base safely in six-straight.
• Despite just one in his two starts at catcher, Cameron Comer has reached base seven times. He was issued a career-high three walks in games vs. Vanderbilt and Cal State Fullerton. His six total walks rank 13th in the NCAA and tied for third in the ACC.
• Playing the first three games as the team’s designated hitter, Brendan Rivoli is 5-for-13 (.385) with three RBI. Two of his three RBI came on a two-out single against TCU on Saturday.
• The bullpen trio of Evan Sperling, Riley Wilson and Grant Donahue combined for 4.1 innings of scoreless relief against No. 2 Vanderbilt on Friday.
 
NEW HOOS SEE ACTION
• In his first collegiate at bat, freshman Zack Gelof doubled to lead off the bottom of the first inning against Vanderbilt. He went on to match a school record with three doubles in the game as part of a 4-for-5, two-run, four-RBI debut.
• Over the weekend, first years Nic Kent (2B), Jack Dragum (2B), Drew Hamrock (LF) made their first career starts. Junior college transfers Logan Michaels (Catcher), Blake Bales (P) and Paul Kosanovich (P) also saw action opening weekend.