Virginia Clinches Series at Boston College

BRIGHTON, Mass. – Virginia (27-21, 18-17 ACC) came away with a 9-2 series-clinching win at Boston College (20-28, 9-23 ACC) on Friday (May 21). The Cavaliers are winners of five-straight games and have now won four-consecutive ACC series.

With the game tied at one after the first inning, Virginia scored the next eight runs and never looked back. The Cavaliers have won 10 of their last 13 games and six of the last seven ACC series. Virginia will have the opportunity for its second-straight series sweep on Saturday (May 22) at 11 a.m.

The Cavalier offense collected nine hits, five that went for extra bases. Junior Nic Kent (Charlottesville, Va.) blasted his fifth home run of the season, a three-run blast in the sixth inning to make the score 9-1. Sophomore Max Cotier (New Milford, Conn.) drove in three of the first four Virginia runs of the game including a two-run, go-ahead double in the second inning to give UVA the lead for good. The three RBI for Cotier established a season-high and the second baseman finished 2-for-4 with a walk in the contest.

Making his first collegiate appearance in his home state, starting pitcher Mike Vasil (Wellesley, Mass.) earned his seventh win and delivered his seventh quality start, the most on the staff. The righthander pitched six innings, allowed two runs and struck out one. Vasil allowed hits to the first three batters of the game and escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the first. He settled in and allowed only two hits over the next 19 batters he faced. All eight hits Vasil surrendered were singles and three didn’t leave the infield.

Brandon Neeck (Chappaqua, N.Y.) came on in relief in the seventh and erased an inherited runner by sitting down all three batters he faced in the frame. He totaled two innings and struck out the final batter of the eighth in his 18^th appearance of the year. Righthander Griff McGarry (Portola Valley, Calif.) pitched a scoreless ninth and fanned a batter to seal the victory.

Virginia accumulated four doubles in the contest, including two off the bat of Zack Gelof (Rehoboth Beach, Del.). The Cavalier third baseman raised his season average to .294 after a 2-for-4 effort at the plate. He reached three times and scored two runs.

Freshman Kyle Teel (Mahwah, N.J.) drove in a run for the second-consecutive day. He went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored. The first year has now reached base safely in 11-straight games. Teel started in right field and recorded an inning-ending outfield assist in the third when Brian Dempsey tried to stretch a single into a double.

The series finale on Saturday (May 22) will feature lefty Nate Savino (2-2) on the mound for UVA and he will be opposed by righthander Alex Steigler (3-3). The contest will be carried live on ACCNX beginning at 11 a.m.

Additional Notes

• Virginia drew eight walks in the contest, the tenth time the Cavaliers have been issued eight or more free passes in a game this season.
• Boston College pitchers managed just two strikeouts, the third fewest in a game by Virginia this season. The Cavaliers didn’t strike out against Louisville (April 17) and fanned once against George Washington (March 2)
• Virginia improved to 47-22 in ACC games on the final two weekends of the year since 2009.
• The Cavaliers haven’t swept an ACC series on the road since take all three at Pitt in 2016.