Ference, McKay Fuel No. 13 Virginia’s 16-4 Win Over VMI

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Graduate transfer Jacob Ference had five hits and starting pitcher Cullen McKay delivered a quality start in No. 13 Virginia’s 16-4 win over VMI (3-6) on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at Disharoon Park. The Cavaliers are 8-0 for the third-consecutive season and have won 24-straight games in the month of February dating back to 2021.

Three of Ference’s five hits on the day were doubles, matching a UVA single-game record. The Mt. Airy, Maryland native finished 5-for-6 with five RBI and a run scored. Harrison Didawick collected a career-high four hits on the night and matched his collegiate best with four RBI.

McKay pitched six innings, the longest outing by a UVA starter this season, and earned his first collegiate victory. He fanned six batters matching a career-high. McKay retired the first 11 batters of the game before surrendering the first hit.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Virginia scored the game’s first nine runs including a five-run rally in the fourth inning to make it 9-0. The five-run frame marked the fifth time this season UVA has scored five or more runs in an inning.
• Ference drove in four of the first nine UVA runs and capped the big fourth inning with a two-run double to right-center. His two-out, RBI double in the second inning made it 2-0 UVA and was his first RBI of the season.

• Virginia scored seven more runs in its final three turns at the plate. The Cavaliers rallied for three runs in the seventh, the first coming in on a Bobby Whalen RBI double. Ethan Anderson then scored on a wild pitch and Didwick flared an RBI single to center to put UVA up 14-1.
• Sophomore Aidan Teel recorded his first collegiate hit in the contest, a solo homr eto leadoff the eighth inning.

• Relievers Matt Augustin, Matthew Buchanan and Chase Hungate combined to pitch 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Virginia had a season-high 19 hits and now has 108 total base knocks in eight games played (13.5 hits per game).
• Matt Augustin and Charlie Oschell made their collegiate debuts in the contest. Tristan Head and Antonio Perrotta each recorded their first collegiate hit.
• Matthew Buchanan made his season debut for the Cavaliers and nearly faced his brother Seth, a freshman infielder for VMI in the eighth inning. Seth was on deck when the third out of the frame was recorded and proved to be Matt’s last batter of the night. Seth later made his collegiate debut when he pinch-hit to lead off the top of the ninth. Prior to the game, the two teams joined in a moment of silence to honor their father, Aaron, who passed away last week.
• Virginia has now won 37-straight games against non-conference opponents in the regular season, including the last 24 at home.
• UVA is 8-0 for the third-straight season and the eighth time under head coach Brian O’Connor. The Cavaliers haven’t lost a game in February since Feb. 27, 2021.
• The game originally slated to start at 5 p.m. was delayed one hour and 33 minutes.

UP NEXT

Virginia will continue its five-game stint at home with a three-game series against UMass this weekend. The opening game is set for Friday (March 1) at 3 p.m. followed by 1 p.m. bouts on Saturday (March 2) and Sunday (March 3).