No. 12 Virginia Uses Two Big Innings to Capture Series Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –A seven-run rally in the fourth and a four-run output in the seventh powered No. 12 Virginia (36-12, 15-10 ACC) to a 11-6, series-opening win over Clemson (31-19, 9-15 ACC) at Disharoon Park on Saturday (May 14). The first 4.2 innings of the contest were played on Friday night before weather forced the two teams to suspend play.

Virginia trailed 4-0 after the first three innings and rallied for a total of seven runs in the fourth inning, the 10^th time this season the Cavaliers have scored seven or more runs in an inning. The Cavaliers scored four runs on Friday night to tie the game before the game was suspended with two outs and runners on second and third. Virginia tacked on three more runs when the game resumed on Saturday and never relinquished the lead.

The Cavalier bullpen trio of Matthew Buchanan, Jay Woolfolk and Brandon Neeck did not allow a run over the final 4.1 innings to preserve the victory. Buchanan was credited with his third win of the season needing just 11 pitches to record three outs. Woolfolk recorded his second hold in as many games with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. Neeck earned his third save of the year, allowing just one runner in the final 1.2 innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Clemson scored three runs in its first turn at the plate, two came on a two-out home run by Tyler Corbitt. The long ball was his 11^th of the season.
• The Tigers quickly made it 4-0 with in the top of the second with a lead-off homer by Jonathan French, his eighth of the year.
• Virginia sent 12 batters to the plate in the game-changing fourth inning. Ethan Anderson brought home the first two runs on his second triple in as many games. Clemson reliever Jackson Lindley walked in the third run of the frame and Max Cotier scored on a wild pitch to tie game.

• The game resumed on Saturday with back-to-back walks issued to Alex Tappen and Jake Gelof. Freshman Griff O’Ferrall scored the go-ahead run in on Gelof’s bases loaded free pass, the 69^th RBI of the season for the Cavalier third baseman. Devin Ortiz capped the rally with a two-run, two out single through the right side to make the score 7-4.
• The Tigers immediately responded and made it a one-run game on a two-run homer by Max Wagner, the second batter of the top of the fifth inning.
• UVA sent nine men to the plate in the eighth, taking advantage of three more Clemson free passes. Freshman Casey Saucke delivered the knockout blow in the frame with a two-run double into right center field.
• As the rain began to fall again in the top of the ninth inning, Cotier made diving stop up the middle, flipped the ball to O’Ferrall at second base to record the final out of the game.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• UVA is 5-4 in ACC series openers this season and the Cavaliers have not lost a conference series in which they won their opening game.
• The comeback victory was Virginia’s 11th of the season. Opponents have scored three runs in the opening inning three times this season and UVA has come back to win all of them (4/3 vs. GT; 4/2 0 vs. Georgetown; 5/14 vs. Clemson)
• It marks the 22^nd time this season Virginia has scored double-digit runs, 20 of those efforts have occurred at Disharoon Park.
• Tappen went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the contest. He is 11-for-13 with five runs scored, three home runs and nine RBI in his last four games.
• Kyle Teel made his 100^th consecutive start dating back to last season. He has started all 48 games this season at catcher.