RICHMOND, Va. – No. 8 Virginia (32-6) cruised to its 24th consecutive victory over a non-conference foe with a 19-6 rout of VCU (19-18) at The Diamond on Tuesday (April 18). Ethan Anderson fell one-hit shy of matching the program’s single-game record for hits with a 5-for-6, two homer, three double effort at the plate.

Anderson had a hit in his first five at bats and the switch-hitting first baseman hit a home run from both sides of the plate. He was robbed in a bid for his sixth hit of the night by VCU center fielder AJ Mathis who came up with a diving play in the right center field gap. He’s the first Cavalier to record five hits in a game since Nick Howard against Richmond on April 24, 2013.

The Cavaliers jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first two innings that included home runs from Kyle Teel and Jake Gelof. Teel hit his eighth of the season and went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI in the contest. Gelof smacked his eighth home run in the last nine games with a three-run blast in the second inning. The national leader in RBI coming into the contest, Gelof added five to his total after Tuesday and now has 67 in 38 games this season.

Connelly Early earned his eighth win of the season, moving him into a tie for the national lead. He allowed three runs over five innings of work and struck out six batters.

BRIAN O’CONNOR POSTGAME COMMENTS

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Teel, the fourth batter of the game, crushed the first pitch he saw over the right center field wall for a two-run homer. It was his eighth of the season and second in the last four games.
• After the first four batters reached, including three hit by pitches, Gelof belted his team-leading 17th home run of the year just to the right of the center field batter’s eye to put UVA up 7-0.

• The Cavaliers sent nine batters to the plate in the in the second inning and plated seven runs. The rally was capped by a Casey Saucke RBI single up the middle that scored Colin Tuft.

• Anderson took command of the Cavalier offense beginning in the fifth with the first of his two home runs. He unloaded on a 0-1 breaking ball for a two-run shot over the right field wall.

• A switch hitter, Anderson came up from the right side of the plate in the sixth and hit a solo homer to left center to put UVA up 12-3.

• The Cavaliers posted six runs in the top of the seventh, three came off the bat of Luke Hanson who hit a bases clearing double to left.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The Cavaliers racked up 22 hits in the contest, the second highest total of the season and the third 20-hit performance of the season.
• Anderson’s three doubles also matched a school-record, a feat that has now been reached 32 times in the program’s history, the last coming int 2021 (Max Cotier vs. Boston College on May 22).
• UVA’s single game record for hits (6) is co-held by Mark McMillian (vs. Maryland – 4/28/1990) and Jeff Booker (vs. Liberty (4/1/1985).
• Gelof moved into sole possession of sixth place on UVA’s career RBI list with 163 career RBI. The 67 this year are tied for the fourth-most in a single season in school history. Gelof already has the school mark of 81, set last season.
• The win was the first for Virginia at The Diamond since 2019. UVA improved to 46-25 all-time against the Rams with the victory. The 19 runs were the most scored by either team in the 71 previous games.

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers will continue their road trip this weekend when they travel to Notre Dame for a three-game series.