By Jeff White (jwhite@virginia.edu)
VirginiaSports.com
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — With one out in the seventh inning and the Virginia Cavaliers leading 13-0, pitcher Nick Parker’s work day ended. As he left the mound and headed to the third-base dugout Friday night, the fans at Disharoon Park saluted him with a standing ovation.
“It’s awesome,” Parker said after No. 21 UVA’s 15-5 victory over ACC rival Louisville. “You can’t really put it into words, but it’s special, is what I can say. It’s always nice having a big crowd like this and being able play well for them and to come out and hear those moments, because you don’t get those moments too often.”
On March 24, there was concern that Parker, a graduate transfer from Coastal Carolina, might never experience such a moment again. In the opening game of Virginia’s series against Florida State at the Dish, a line drive struck Parker in his right cheekbone, and he dropped to the mound, where he initially lay motionless.
“When he got hit against Florida State, I think that was the fastest I’ve ever run in the last 25 years when I ran to the mound,” UVA head coach Brian O’Connor recalled Friday night.
“Candidly, first and foremost I was concerned for his life,” O’Connor said. “I was concerned that maybe it hit him in the temple. The fact that he persevered through it, wanted to come back and pitch so quickly speaks to who he is and how much of a competitor he is. I was with him that night in the hospital and he was determined to get back as soon as he could. And it took him a start or two to get back to his form, but he’s certainly pitching great baseball for us and it speaks to who he is.”
Parker, a 6-foot-1 right-hander, had surgery March 28 to repair a broken broke in his face. He returned to the mound and started April 8 against ACC foe Miami at Disharoon Park. He wasn’t his sharpest that day, but he’s again looking like the pitcher who struck out 10 batters in Coastal Carolina’s 9-1 victory over host East Carolina in last year’s NCAA tournament.
In a 10-2 win over Duke on April 29, Parker fanned 12 in 6.2 innings at the Dish. He dazzled again Friday against Louisville (29-20, 9-16), scattering five hits, striking out five and walking none.
“Certainly, Nick Parker gave us a great start tonight,” O’Connor said. “He’s been excellent his last two starts, Duke and then tonight. That’s what we need. We need guys to go out there and command…