Virginia Hits Four Homers, Thumps Hofstra 21-3 to Clinch First Series Win
Winning the season-opener on Friday required Virginia to rally from multiple deficits and withstand some late drama before coming away with a 10-8 win in the first game of the year.
The Cavaliers decided to simplify things a bit in game 2.
Behind an eight-run third inning, a five-run fourth, and a four-run fifth, as well as four home runs, Virginia (2-0) put the game away early and cruised to a 21-3 victory over Hofstra to claim the series win on Saturday afternoon at Disharoon Park.
As was the case in the opener on Friday, Hofstra struck first as an error allowed an unearned run to cross the plate. Sophomore lefty Evan Blanco was otherwise solid in his first-career start on the mound, giving up zero earned runs and striking out three in three innings of work.
Hofstra's 1-0 lead held until the bottom of the third, when Luke Hanson hit a solo home run to left field, his first career homer in his first at-bat of the season.
Indiana transfer Bobby Whalen followed that up with a double and then Griff O'Ferrall hit a two-run home run, his second game in a row with a homer. The not typically power-hitting O'Ferrall has already surpassed his home run total from all of last season in just two games.
That third inning also included an RBI single from Casey Saucke, a sacrifice fly from Eric Becker, and a bases-clearing three-run base hit on Whalen's second double of the inning. Virginia ultimately scored eight runs to blow the game wide open leading 8-1.
The fourth inning saw Henry Ford hit his first career home run on a 411-foot drive to left center, Saucke score on an error, Whalen draw a walk to bring in a run, and O'Ferrall hit a two-run single.
In the fifth inning, Harrison Didawick hit an RBI double, Whalen hit a two-run single, and Henry Godbout hit an RBI double. After Hofstra scored two runs off of Bradley Hodges on a two-run double by Michael Florides, the Cavaliers tacked on one run in the sixth on an error and three more in the eighth for good measure, with Harrison Didawick delivering Virginia's fourth home run of the game.
Virginia used six pitchers in the game, with Cullen McKay, Chase Hungate, and Owen Coady each tossing scoreless frames. Griff O'Ferrall went 2 for 4 with four RBI and the home run, Henry Ford was 3 for 5 with three runs scored, and Bobby Whalen went 4 for 4 with six RBI in his first start in center field.
Now 2-0 on the season, Virginia will take aim at the series sweep over Hofstra in game 3 on Sunday at 1pm at the Dish.
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