Virginia Survives in Extra Innings, Beats UMass 4-3 to Take Game 1
It wasn't pretty, but UVA baseball remains undefeated in 2024.
Behind a strong start from starter Evan Blanco, the Cavaliers led 2-0 at the midway point of the game, but UMass scored three runs in the sixth to take a lead that lasted into the ninth inning. Henry Godbout scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth to force the game into extras and then Godbout delivered the walk-off RBI single in the 10th to give Virginia (9-0) a 4-3 victory over UMass (1-4) in the series opener on a rainy Friday afternoon at Disharoon Park.
Evan Blanco delivered his deepest start of the young season, retiring the first 10 batters he faced and giving up only one hit through the first five innings of the game. The UVA offense, meanwhile, was held in check by UMass starter Max LeBlanc until the bottom of the fourth, when the Cavaliers loaded the bases and Harrison Didawick drew a walk to score the game's first run and then Henry Godbout grounded out to score another.
Blanco's near-perfect outing went slightly awry in the top of the sixth, as he issued a leadoff walk and then a fielding error allowed that runner to score. Kevin Jaxel entered the game and gave up a two-run home run to Mike Gervasi and suddenly UMass led 3-2.
The Minutemen pitching staff continued to stymie the Cavalier bats, this time with Leif Bigelow holding UVA scoreless in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Virginia had chances to tie the game in the seventh and eighth with runners in scoring position, but couldn't capitalize. An Ethan Anderson single nearly tied the game in the eighth, but Henry Ford was thrown out at the plate.
With the score still 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Henry Godbout delivered a leadoff double down the left field line, advanced to third on a throwing error, and then scored the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly from Bobby Whalen. Virginia should have won the game right then, as Griff O'Ferrall singled and Anthony Stephan walked to load the bases with just one out. But Ford popped out to the catcher and then Anderson, who thought he had won the game by drawing a walk but the home plate umpire called an inside pitch on a 3-0 count a strike, went on to ground out to first to end the inning.
In the top of the tenth, an error allowed UMass to put the leadoff man on base, but Aidan Teel retired the next three batters to give the Cavaliers a chance to win it again.
Harrison Didawick hit a one-out single and then stole second base to put himself in scoring position and then Godbout completed his fantastic day with a clutch single into right field to bring home Didawick for the walk-off win.
It should never have been that close, but the Cavaliers found a way to win in come-from-behind fashion once again, their seventh time in nine games winning a game in which they trailed at some point.
Godbout was the hero with two hits, two RBI and a run scored, but Blanco also gets a game ball for his excellent performance on the mound, surrendering just one hit, three walks, and zero earned runs while striking out eight batters in 5.2 innings of work.
Game 2 between Virginia and UMass is set for 1pm on Saturday at Disharoon Park.
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