No. 5 Virginia Jumps on Virginia Tech Early, Secures Series Opener

BLACKSBURG, Va. – No. 5 Virginia (24-2, 8-2 ACC) scored the first nine runs of a 9-5, series opening win over Virginia Tech (15-10, 2-8 ACC) on Friday (March 31). The Cavaliers have won seven-straight games, the longest win streak in the ACC.

For the second-straight game, the UVA offense was ignited by junior Ethan O’Donnell who went 2-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI. His three-run homer in the second inning gave UVA a commanding, 6-0 advantage. Jake Gelof also drove in three runs in a 3-for-5, two-double, three-RBI performance at the plate.

Righthander Brian Edgington delivered his team-best, third quality start of the season. He pitched six innings, did not allow an earned run and struck out eight batters. Edgington improved to 5-0 on the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cavaliers took their first lead of the game just three batters in. Back-to-back walks earned by Griff O’Ferrall and O’Donnell set the table for Gelof. O’Donnell fouled off eight pitches in a 12-pitch walk to move O’Ferrall into scoring position. Gelof plated O’Ferrall with the first of his two doubles on the day.

• Kyle Teel’s sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Ethan Anderson pushed UVA’s lead to 3-0 in the top of the first. UVA has scored 36 runs in the first inning this season, the most of any other frame.
• O’Donnell doubled up the UVA lead in the top of the second with a three-run homer, his second three-run shot in as many games. He now has seven home runs on the season and 23 for his career

• O’Donnell also made his presence known in the outfield. He made a slide catch on a Carson Jones line drive into the right center field gap in the top of the third inning.

• Gelof extended the Virginia lead to 8-0 in the fourth with a two RBI double that scored O’Ferrall and O’Donnell. Gelof has a team-high, 40 RBI on the season.
• Teel capped the UVA scoring with an RBI double down the left field line in the top of the sixth. Teel went 2-for-4 with two RBI and upped his season average to an ACC-best, .451.
• Virginia Tech pushed two unearned runs across in the sixth inning to get on the scoreboard. The Hokies close the gap to four in the eighth with a three-run homer by Bordy Donay.
• Jay Woolfolk came on an worked a scoreless ninth inning, throwing a total of 15 pitches.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Virginia’s 1-4 hitters (O’Ferrall, O’Donnell, Gelof, Teel) combined to go 9-for-17, with eight runs and eight RBI in the contest.
• Virginia is 24-2 through its first 26 games, tied for the best start in program history. UVA has started a season 24-2, three times – 2011, 2013, 2023.
• Teel has reached base in all 26 games this season while O’Ferrall has reached safely in 17-straight.
• UVA has scored 36 runs in the first inning this season, the most of any other inning.
• The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes due to rain.

UP NEXT

The middle game of the three-game series is set for Saturday (April 1) at 7 p.m. in Blacksburg. UVA will have lefthander Connelly Early (6-0) on the mound and he will be opposed by righthander Griffin Green (1-1).

SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

• The rivalry between Virginia Athletics and Virginia Tech Athletics has a long and storied history dating back more than 125 years within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Cavaliers and Hokies first faced off on the gridiron in Charlottesville in 1895. First coined the Commonwealth Clash during the 2014-2015 season, the rivalry has expanded and intensified across the 22 sports the two institutions face off in head-to-head competition.
• The winner of the three-game series will earn one point in the Clash
• Virginia currently leads this year’s clash, 7-6.