No. 9 Virginia’s Six-Game Win Streak Halted on Thursday

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 9 Virginia (21-5, 6-4 ACC) was limited to five hits in a 9-4 loss against No. 11 Duke (19-7, 5-5 ACC) in the first game of a three-game ACC series at Jack Coombs Field on Thursday (March 28). The Cavaliers had their six-game win streak snapped in the process.

It marked only the fifth time in 26 games that Virginia did not reach double digits in the hit column. The Blue Devils never trailed in the contest but a four-run, fourth inning proved to be the difference.

Sophomore Henry Godbout drove in two runs and was 1-for-4 at the plate. Ethan Anderson recorded UVA’s lone extra-base hit, a double down the left field line in the seventh inning. The two-bagger was his 49th of his career, tying him with UVA Baseball Hall of Famer Ryan Gilleland for eighth on UVA’s all-time doubles list.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blue Devils scored two first inning runs and never relinquished the lead after. Virginia starting pitcher Cullen McKay allowed three hits, walked a batter and hit a batter but limited the damage by striking out three in the frame.
• UVA responded with a two-out, RBI single in the top of the second inning by Godbout that scored Henry Ford. Godbout has now hit safely in eight-straight games.
• In the fateful fourth inning, Duke needed only two hits but earned two walks and a hit by pitch. Each of the three free passes came around to score.
• Virginia chipped away with runs in the fifth, seventh and ninth, all on RBI groundouts. Griff O’Ferrall, Luke Hanson and Godbout all plated a run with the productive outs.
• The Cavalier bullpen trio of Ryan Osinski (1.2 IP, 1 ER), Aidan Teel (1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 SO) and Matthew Buchanan (2.0 IP, 1 R, 2 SO) allowed two earned runs over the final 4.2 innings.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Harrison Didawick extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a lead-off single to center in the bottom of the ninth. He later came around to score UVA’s fourth run on Godbout’s second RBI.
• Anderson (1-for-3) has reached base safely in all 26 games this season and extended his hit streak to 15 games.
• UVA drops to 9-3 when opponents score in the first inning and 10-3 when opponents score first.

UP NEXT

Virginia will look to even the series on Friday (March 29) with the middle game of a three-game set in Durham. Virginia lefty Evan Blanco (2-1) will be on the mound and will be opposed by Duke righthander Ryan Higgins (0-0). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ACCNX and WINA (98.9 FM/1070 AM).