CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – In its non-conference regular season finale, No. 21 Virginia (38-11) produced an 8-0 shutout win over Radford (9-40) on Wednesday (May 10) at Disharoon Park. The Cavaliers became first NCAA team since 2015 to go undefeated in regular season non-conference play (Texas A&M).
Seven Cavalier pitchers combined for the four-hit shutout of the Highlanders, the sixth clean sheet of the season for UVA. Sophomore Jack O’Connor struck out five of the final six batters he faced in three innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win. The seven pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts, the 30th time the Cavaliers have combined for double-digit strikeouts in a game this season.
Jake Gelof led the Cavalier attack with a 3-for-3, three RBI effort at the plate which included his 19th home run of the season. He upped his season RBI total to 76, five shy of his own single-season record set last year. His 19 home runs are three off matching the single-season school mark and third most in a season school history.
BRIAN O’CONNOR POSTGAME AUDIO
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ethan Anderson capitalized in a big way on a dropped foul ball by Radford in the second inning. He worked the count to 2-2 and blasted a 432-foot homer over the right field wall to open up the UVA scoring. The long ball was Anderson’s eighth of the season.
No. Doubter.
Ethan Anderson with a 432-foot blast gives us the lead here in the B2!
📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/InMdPUXYDo
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 10, 2023
- Gelof kicked off a three-run third inning with a 404-foot shot to left center that plated Ethan O’Donnell who led off the frame with a single to right.
No rust on the Rake!
HR No. 1️⃣9️⃣ on the season for @JakeGelof!
📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/SjuTYyzJU8
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 10, 2023
- Anthony Stephan made it 4-0 UVA with a two-out, RBI double down the right field line that allowed Casey Saucke to score from first base.
- Gelof ignited another rally in the fourth with a sharp line drive that hit off the Pitcher and deflected into the outfield and allowed Stephan to score easily from second base. Anderson picked up his second RBI of the afternoon to cap the inning with an RBI groundout.
- Griff O’Ferrall drove in UVA’s seventh run of the afternoon with a two-out single to center and UVA finished the day with its final run in the eighth, taking advantage of…