Godbout’s Three-Run Shot Lifts UVA Over K-State in Game 1 of Super Regional

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.  – Virginia second baseman Henry Godbout’s three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh broke a 4-4 tie and put the Cavaliers (45-15) ahead to stay in their 7-4 victory over Kansas State (35-25) in the opening game of the Charlottesville Super Regional at Disharoon Park Friday night (June 7).  

UVA trailed for most of the contest, but rallied to earn its 23rd come-from-behind win this season, including third comeback of the postseason. On the mound, left-hander Evan Blanco (8-3) earned the win after pitching 7.0 innings while surrendering only four runs on five hits. Blanco struck out nine opposing batters while walking only one. Angelo Tonas and Matt Augustin combined to retire the final six Wildcat batters.

In addition to Godbout (2-4, 3 RBI), Virginia was led offensively by Griff O’Ferrall (2-3, 2 RBI), Casey Saucke (1-3, 1 RBI) and Henry Ford (2-5, 1 RBI). 

With Friday’s victory, Virginia is one away from clinching its seventh College World Series appearance under head coach Brian O’Connor, including third in the last four seasons. Virginia has now won seven consecutive games at home and collected its sixth straight postseason triumph at The Dish. Additionally, the Hoos tallied their 30th home win of the season, which marks the first time since 2014 that UVA has notched at least 30 home wins in back-to-back seasons.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Only two batters in, K-State got on the scoreboard after Brendan Jones’ triple ultimately led to the Wildcats’ first run of the game. Jones was brought home on an RBI groundout by Jordan Parsons.

• The Wildcats mounted a 3-0 lead when Kaelen Culpepper drove in a pair on a one-out double to left field. 
• The Cavaliers cut the K-State lead to one [3-2] on a sacrifice fly by Saucke, followed Ford’s RBI groundout in the fifth. Saucke’s sac fly marked his seventh of the season, the second most on the team.

• In the sixth, O’Ferrall roped a shot down the left field line that bounced on the warning track and landed in the stands, resulting a ground-rule double. O’Ferrall, who had a full count, knocked home a pair of runs in the process to deliver the Hoos’ first lead [4-3] of the game.

• The Wildcats knotted the score, 4-4, when David Bishop went yard on a solo shot to right center field in the top of the seventh. 
• In the bottom half of the inning, Godbout blasted his ninth homer of the year and second of the postseason, a three-run shot over the left field wall to reclaim the lead [7-4] for the Cavaliers.

• Tonas entered in relief of Blanco in the top of the eighth, which marked his 31st appearance of the season. Tonas retired the side in the eighth and the first batter of the ninth before righty Augustin finished off the final two KSU batters.

ADDITIONAL NOTES 

• Harrison Didawick scored his 77th run of the season coming home on Godbout’s seventh inning blast to break the UVA single-season record for runs scored. He surpassed teammate Griff O’Ferrall’s mark of 76 established last season.
• Virginia has reached the 45-win plateau for the ninth time in program history and eighth under head coach Brian O’Connor. It marks the first time UVA has posted back-to-back 45-win seasons since 2013 and 2014.
• Virginia won its first Super Regional opening game since 2015. The Cavaliers have won the opening game of a Super Regional five times – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 & 2024.
• Ethan Anderson has reached base safely in 32-straight games after a 1-for-2 effort at the plate.
• Blanco was one out shy of matching a career best with 7.0 innings pitched. He has logged six or more innings in each of his last four starts. His nine strikeouts are the second-most he’s accumulated in a game this season. 

UP NEXT 

The best-of-three series continues on Saturday (June 8) with first pitch on ESPNU scheduled for 3 p.m. The Cavaliers will have righthander Jay Woolfolk (3-1) on mound and he will be opposed by KSU righty Jackson Wentworth (6-3).