UVA Baseball | No. 10 Virginia Tops VMI in Home Opener, 6-4

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.  –  In front of the largest crowd ever for a home opener at Disharoon Park, the No. 10 Virginia (4-3) baseball team defeated the VMI, 6-4 on Tuesday night (Feb. 25). 

After allowing the first two runs, the Cavaliers plated six of the final eight runs of the contest, which included a grand slam by Chris Arroyo in the bottom of the second inning. To secure the win, the UVA bullpen held the previously unbeaten VMI (7-1) to three runs over the final eight innings.  

 Arroyo went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs to lead all batters while Henry Ford added a double on the evening. In total, six different Cavaliers scored a run. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• In his first appearance of the season, Evan Blanco started on the mound and threw one inning of one-run ball. 
• VMI opened the scoring on the night with a one-out RBI single from Cole Ralie, who scored Owen Prince. 
• The visiting Keydets added another run in the second on a double steal attempt when Virginia committed an error allowing the VMI runner to score from third. 
• UVA took the lead in the home half of the second when Chris Arroyo launched a grand slam over the wall in right field for his second home run of the season. 

• VMI got back to within one with an RBI groundout in the top of the Third. 
• The Cavaliers plated two more runs in the fifth to make it a 6-3 contest when the VMI catcher dropped a throw on a play at the plate. 

• In relief, Kevin Jaxel tossed 3.1 shutout innings with a game-best four strikeouts. He was credited with his first win of the year and seventh of his career.
• Blake Barker threw a scoreless seventh inning and fanned three of the four Keydets that he faced 
• Ryan Osinski collected his second save of the season by striking out two of the four batters he faced. 

ADDITIONAL STATS 

• Tuesday’s attendance of 3,934 was the largest crowd for a home opener, surpassing the mark of 3,709 set in 2018, the first game after Disharoon Park underwent a stadium expansion.
• Henry Godbout extended this on-base streak to 26 games dating back to the 2024 season. 
• Virginia’s 11 hits on Tuesday are the most…