Second-Seeded Virginia Posts 15 Runs in Pool Play Opener

DURHAM, N.C.  – No. 12 Virginia (45-11) opened up ACC Pool B Play on Wednesday with a 15-1, run-rule victory over Georgia Tech (30-27) in seven innings at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The 15 runs were the most ever by a Cavalier team in the ACC Tournament.

In the process, Virginia won its 10th-straight game, the second double-digit win streak of the season. The Cavaliers will play North Carolina on Thursday (May 25) for the chance to advance to the ACC Semifinal for the second time in three seasons on Saturday.

Ethan O’Donnell, Casey Saucke and Kyle Teel all put forth three-hit efforts for a lineup that racked up 17 hits, one shy of matching the program’s ACC Tournament best. Teel was a triple short of the cycle and hit his 12th home run of the season. His double to lead off the second inning was his 24th of the season, establishing a UVA single-season record.

Starting pitcher Nick Parker pitched a complete game and didn’t surrender a run over his first six innings of work. The righthander allowed one run over seven innings and registered his career-best seventh win of the season and his 20th of his collegiate career. The complete game was the first in the ACC tournament by a Cavalier since Josh Sborz pitched seven-inning shutout against the Yellow Jackets to open the 2015 ACC Tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Teel scored the first two runs of the game for the Cavaliers scoring on a groundout after his record-breaking double in the second and then led off the third with a solo shot to straightaway center for his 27th career long ball.

• Leading 3-0 going into the fifth the Cavaliers blew the game open with a an eight-run frame that saw 12 batters come to the plate. All eight runs in the frame came with two outs.
• Anthony Stephan recorded his first career triple, lacing a ball down the right field line that scored two run and put UVA up 6-0.

• Griff O’Ferrall followed up with a two run double and the big blow of the frame was a three-run homer by Ethan O’Donnell make it 11-0 UVA. The homer for O’Donnell was his 12th of the season.

• Ethan Anderson became the fourth Cavalier to reach the double-digit home run mark with a solo shot from the right side in the sixth.
• UVA tacked on three more runs in the seventh, highlighted by the second RBI of the afternoon by Casey Saucke. He’s reached base in 20 consecutive games, the longest active streak on the team.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The Cavaliers have won six-straight games against Georgia Tech, including all four meetings this season. It’s the first six-game win streak against the Yellow Jackets since the 2004-2005 seasons.
• The eight-run outburst was the seventh time UVA has scored eight or more runs in an inning this season.
• Virginia turned three double plays in the contest, tied for the most in a game this season.
• The victory was Brian O’Connor’s 30th ACC Tournament win, tied with Sam Esposito (NC State) for ninth-most in league history.
• Teel, the ACC Player of the Year, has 94 hits on the year, tied with Jarrett Parker (2009) for the second-most in a single season in program history.
• Griff O’Ferrall scored his 69th run of the season, moving into sole possession of second on UVA’s single season runs list.
• Parker’s complete game was the 23rd by a Cavalier in the ACC Tournament and only the fourth since 2000.

UP NEXT

The winner of Thursday’s game between Virginia and North Carolina will advance to the semifinals on Saturday. The Cavaliers will have lefty Connelly Early on the mound and he will be opposed by righthander Jake Knapp. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.