Big Second Inning Powers No. 5 Virginia Past ODU

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – No. 5 Virginia (23-2) scored seven runs in the second inning and went on to claim an 8-1 win over ODU (20-5) on Tuesday (March 28) at Disharoon Park. The Cavaliers have won 18-straight home games, including all 17 at The Dish this season, tied for the longest streak in the country.

For the third-straight game and 12th time in 2023, UVA was able to plate five or more runs in an inning. The Cavaliers posted seven in the bottom of the second, three came off the bat of Ethan O’Donnell who blasted a two-out, three-run homer off the scoreboard in right field. The long ball was his sixth of the year.

On a designated staff day, six UVA pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and limited ODU to just five hits. The Monarchs came into the contest as the No. 4 scoring team in the country (10.6 runs per game) and their 57 home runs were the fourth-most of any team in the country. The Cavalier arms limited ODU to just one extra-base hit in the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Freshman Henry Godbout got the second inning started with a bases loaded, two-RBI single up the middle. Godbout has six RBI in his last three games and upped his season total to 20.

• Griff O’Ferrall extended his reached base streak to 16 games with a two-out, RBI single through the left side on an 0-2 pitch that scored Anthony Stephan. That allowed O’Donnell to come to the plate and he slammed the first pitch he saw off the scoreboard in right center. The home run was O’Donnell’s sixth of the season.
• Ethan Anderson capped the rally with a single up the middle that scored Jake Gelof and put the Cavaliers up 7-0. Anderson was 2-for-3 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI. The multi-hit effort was his 13th of the season.
• Kyle Teel plated the final run of the afternoon for the Cavaliers on an RBI ground out to score O’Donnell. Teel was 2-for-5 and now has reached base in all 25 games this season.
• Cavalier starting pitcher Connelly Early faced the minimum over the first two innings and struck out a pair of batters. He did not allow a hit and picked off the only runner to reach against him on a one-out walk.

• Chase Hungate worked the next inning and two thirds and fanned three batters. He’s not allowed a run in his last 6.2 innings of relief. Freshman Kevin Jaxel logged two scoreless innings and struck out a pair in sixth and seventh. Jay Woolfolk and Jake Berry pitched the eighth and ninth respectively, keeping the Monarchs off the scoreboard.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Virginia’s 23-2 mark through the first 25 games is tied for the best start in program history. UVA has been 23-2 four times in its history (2009, 2013, 2022, 2023), all under head coach Brian O’Connor.
• The matchup between two, 20-win teams was the second in college baseball this season (LSU/Arkansas – March 24-25).
• UVA has won seven of the last eight games against ODU and are now 34-35-2 against the Monarchs all-time. Under Brian O’Connor, Virginia has won 12 of its 20 matchups.
• Cavalier pitchers have struck out 10 or more batters 14 times this season.

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers will trek down to Blacksburg this weekend for a three-game ACC series at Virginia Tech. The series opener will air live on ACC Network at 8 p.m. on Friday (March 31).