Cavaliers Now

Blanco Shuts Down Heels, Virginia Beats North Carolina 7-2 to Clinch Series

Matt Newton

Evan Blanco delivers a pitch during the Virginia baseball game against North Carolina at Disharoon Park.
Evan Blanco delivers a pitch during the Virginia baseball game against North Carolina at Disharoon Park. / Virginia Athletics

A furious comeback, explosive offense, and a big-time bullpen effort was required for Virginia to win a 14-11 shootout in game 1 on Friday against North Carolina. Clinching the series in game 2 was a little bit more straightforward for the Cavaliers.

Evan Blanco struck out seven batters in 6.1 innings of two-run baseball and Ethan Anderson hit a pair of home runs to lead No. 15 Virginia (25-6, 9-5 ACC) to a series-clinching 7-2 victory over No. 10 North Carolina (25-6, 10-4 ACC) on Friday night at Disharoon Park.

In game 1 on Thursday, UVA's first two pitchers were shell-shocked by the Tar Heels, surrendering 11 runs in the first three frames. Evan Blanco provided a much-needed contrast in game 2 as he gave up just two earned runs on six hits in 6.1 innings of work. The Cavalier bats gave Blanco some early run support, as Casey Saucke hit a two-out single, Henry Ford walked, and then Harrison Didawick brought everyone in with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Blanco tossed scoreless frames in the first and second before giving up a solo home run to Vance Honeycutt in the third, but he still posted three strikeouts in the inning. Two more relatively easy innings followed for Blanco in the fourth and fifth, but the Tar Heels got one more back in the top of the sixth on another solo home run by Honeycutt.

Owen Coady entered the game in the top of the seventh in a tight spot with runners on first and second and one out and got the Cavaliers out of it with the 3-2 lead still intact.

Virginia replenished its lead in the bottom of the seventh as Ethan Anderson responded with a crushed solo home run to right field.

Luke Hanson and Griff O'Ferrall both drew walks and both came around to score on a Casey Saucke base hit down the left field line to make it 6-2.

Owen Coady dealt a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth and then Ethan Anderson hit a leadoff home run for the second-consecutive inning, again crushing a ball deep to right field, this time leaving the ball park.

Owen Coady worked around a two-out single to retire the side in the top of the ninth, polishing off Virginia's 7-2 victory and securing the series for the Cavaliers, their second series win over a top 10 team this season.

Coady posted his first save of the season, giving up just one hit in 2.2 innings of work and striking out three. Blanco earned his third win of the year, giving up two runs in 6.1 innings and recording seven strikeouts.

Ethan Anderson went 3 for 4 with two home runs and Harrison Didawick had three RBI on the three-run home run in the first. Casey Saucke went 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Virginia will take aim at a series sweep on Saturday at 1pm at Disharoon Park. Kevin Jaxel will get the start for the Cavaliers, while Shea Sprague is expected to start for the Tar Heels.

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Matt Newton

MATT NEWTON

Managing Editor and Publisher, CavaliersNow Email: mattnewton@virginia.eduTwitter: @mattynewtssWebsite | LinkedIn | Instagram Matt Newton is the managing editor and publisher at CavaliersNow. He has been covering UVA athletics since 2019 and has been the managing editor at CavaliersNow since launching the site in August 2021. Matt covers all things UVA sports, including Virginia basketball and football news and recruiting, former Wahoos in the pros, and coverage of all 23 of the NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. A native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Matt grew up a huge Philadelphia sports fan, but has also been a UVA sports fanatic his entire life thanks to his parents, who are alums of the University of Virginia. Matt followed in his parents' footsteps and attended UVA from 2017-2021, graduating with a degree in Media Studies and a minor in Economics in May of 2021.