Clutch Hitting Gives Virginia Series-Clinching 10-6 Win Over Georgia Tech

With the postseason drawing closer and closer, the ability to win games in a variety of ways, including getting clutch hits to come from behind, becomes critical for every college baseball team looking to make a tournament run. The Virginia baseball team did just that on Saturday night, twice erasing multiple-run deficits and scoring three runs in both the seventh and ninth innings to pull away for a series-clinching 10-6 victory at Georgia Tech on Friday night at Mac Nease Baseball Park in Atlanta.

Virginia starter Connelly Early got off to a rough start, giving up a pair of home runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kristian Campbell got things started with a leadoff solo home run to center field on the fourth pitch of the game and then, after a double by Jake DeLeo, Early left another pitch over the center of the plate and Stephen Reid punished him with a two-run homer to center field, giving the Yellow Jackets a quick 3-0 lead. Early surrendered two more singles in the first, but managed to retire the side and escape further damage.

The UVA offense responded in the second inning, as Kyle Teel hit a leadoff double and then Ethan Anderson was hit by a pitch and Casey Saucke drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Anthony Stephan delivered a single up the middle to score two runs and then an error on a grounder by Henry Godbout brought in another Virginia run to tie the game.

Georgia Tech regained the lead in the bottom half of the second as Nicholas Romano led off with a single, moved to second on a walk, advanced to third on a fly-out, and came home on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-3.

Early put a couple of zeroes on the board in the third and fourth innings, stranding a runner on third in the third inning and pitching a 1-2-3 fourth. But Georgia Tech starter Aeden Finateri was equally good, pitching a scoreless third and fourth inning to keep it a 4-3 game. The Yellow Jackets extended their lead in the fifth as Angelo Dispigna hit Georgia Tech's third home run of the game, a solo shot to right field to make it 5-3.

Georgia Tech reliever Ben King retired UVA in order in the fifth, but ran into trouble in the sixth inning. Anderson and Saucke singled to give the Cavaliers first and third with one out and then a wild pitch brought Anderson home. Virginia had an opportunity to tie the game, but Stephan grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Early was pulled from the game after five innings and he finished with a statline of five earned runs on nine hits to go along with eight strikeouts. Virginia went to the bullpen with Angelo Tonas, who pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning to keep it at 5-4.

The tides turned in UVA's favor in the seventh inning and it started at the top of the lineup with Griff O'Ferrall hitting a leadoff single and stealing second. Jake Gelof came up a drilled a ball that was too hot for the third baseman to handle, sending the ball into shallow left field and O'Ferrall was opportunistic with his baserunning, scoring from second base to tie the game. Kyle Teel was next to plate and the star catcher hit a line drive over the wall in right field for his second home run in as many games to give the Cavaliers their first lead of the game, a lead that would hold for the remainder of the game.

HERE COME THE HOOS!!!

Kyle Teel gives UVA a 7-5 lead with his second homer of the series!

📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/BykJmbZHjF
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 20, 2023

The Yellow Jackets got one run back in the bottom of the seventh as Stephen Reid hit his second home run of the game and Georgia Tech's fourth homer of the night on a solo shot to right field to make it a one-run game. After giving up the home run, Jake Berry gave up two more singles, but got out of the inning with Virginia still clinging to a 7-6 lead.

UVA loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with one out, but Terry Busse got O'Ferrall and Ethan O'Donnell to strike out to prevent the Cavaliers from scoring. Berry picked up a couple of strikeouts to start the bottom of the eighth, but was then pulled in favor of Jay Woolfolk after giving up a single. Woolfolk retired the first batter he faced to move the game to its final frame.

Virginia picked up some crucial insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Kyle Teel stayed hot with a one-out single and then stole second, prompting Georgia Tech to intentionally walk Ethan Anderson. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and then Saucke walked to load the bases. Into the game to pinch-hit came Chris Baker, who delivered with a big-time clutch hit, poking a single up the middle to score two runs. Freshman Henry Godbout followed that up with a blooper down the left field line that scored another run, giving UVA a 10-6 lead.

Jay Woolfolk worked around a two-out walk in the ninth and retired the side to clinch the win and the series for Virginia. Kyle Teel led the UVA bats, going 4 for 5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Anthony Stephan, Chris Baker, and Henry Godbout had two RBI apiece. Angelo Tonas was credited with his fourth win of the season and Jay Woolfolk picked up his eighth save.

And with Miami coming from behind to beat Duke on Friday night, UVA has clinched at least a share of the ACC Coastal title and the No. 2 seed in next week's ACC Tournament.

Virginia has won eight-straight games to improve to 43-11 overall and 18-11 in ACC play. The Cavaliers look to complete the series sweep over Georgia Tech in the regular season finale on Saturday at noon in Atlanta.

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