CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – No. 21 Virginia (36-11) scored the game’s first eight runs and held off James Madison (24-19) for a 9-8 victory on Wednesday (May 3) at Disharoon Park. Virginia improved to 24-0 in non-conference play this season and has won 28-consecutive regular-season non-ACC games dating back to 2022.
For the fourth time this season, starting pitcher Connelly Early produced a quality start. He did not allow a run over six innings and fanned six batters. He moved into a tie for the ACC lead with his ninth win of the season. Jay Woolfolk completed the four-out save and stranded the tying run on second base for his seventh save of the season.
The capper on another outstanding effort by @ConnellyEarly!
6.0 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO pic.twitter.com/SAaqdB1npg
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 4, 2023
Ethan O’Donnell put forth his third four-hit game of the season, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. He was robbed of a fifth hit by JMU’s Trevon Dabney, who made a full extension diving play in right center the eighth inning. Kyle Teel and Anthony Stephan each had three hits and were two of six multi-hit performances in the Cavalier lineup.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UVA scored in the first inning for the 25th time this year, plating a pair of runs. O’Donnell scored on a wild pitch to put UVA on the board and Jake Gelof scored on an infield single by Kyle Teel.
- Three-straight two-out, RBI hits in the bottom of the second by O’Donnell, Gelof and Teel powered a four-run second inning. Gelof’s two-out double scored O’Donnell from first base, his 73rd RBI of the season.
2nd Double in as many at bats for @JakeGelof! Hoos up 5-0 in the B2!
RBI No. 7️⃣3️⃣ on the season for the national leader.
📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/CzlHrOYudf
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 3, 2023
- Casey Saucke tripled home UVA’s seventh run of the evening and later scored on a wild pitch to extend Virginia’s lead to 8-0 after five. It was Saucke’s first triple of the season and fourth of his career.
- The final Cavalier run, which proved pivotal, came in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly to right field by Griff O’Ferrall that allowed Saucke to score.
- JMU scored all eight of its runs its final three turns at the plate. Four of the eight runs surrendered by the Cavaliers were unearned.
- Dukes catcher Jason Schiavone made it a three-run game in the eighth with a two-out, two-run homer to left…