Olivia Taylor/Virginia Athletics
No. 5 Virginia Falls at Virginia Tech 12-7, Suffers First ACC Series Loss
After a strong start in game 1 on Friday, the UVA pitching staff suffered a major letdown for the remainder of the series, surrendering a combined 14 walks, 24 hits, and 24 runs between games 2 and 3 as the Cavaliers gave away a very winnable series to the archrival Hokies.
Virginia Tech put up seven runs in the final three frames to turn a one-run deficit into a 12-7 victory over No. 5 Virginia on Sunday afternoon in Blacksburg as the Hokies handed the Cavaliers their first ACC series loss of the season and earned a point in the Commonwealth Clash.
As was the case in game 2 on Saturday, the early innings of the rubber match were not very pitcher-friendly as neither starter lasted through the first three innings of the game. Griff O'Ferrall took the first pitch of the game from Anthony Arguelles back up the middle for a leadoff single, advanced to second on an Ethan O'Donnell walk, moved to third on a groundout, and then scored on a single from Kyle Teel. Ethan Anderson came up and delivered a two run double down the right field line and Virginia took a quick 3-0 lead.
UVA's time in front was brief as starter Jack O'Connor gave up a pair of walks to start the bottom of the first and an error from Henry Godbout on what could have been a double play ball loaded the bases with no outs. Carson DeMartini sent a ball down the left field line for a bases clearing triple, tying the game with one swing, and then Brody Donay grounded out to score DeMartini, giving the Hokies the 4-3 lead.
Virginia answered in the top of the second as Godbout singled and stole second base before coming around to score on a double from Ethan O'Donnell to tie the game. Jack O'Connor got the first two outs of the second, but then hit a batter and walked the next and his day was done. Evan Blanco came in to face Jack Hurley, who hit a ball hard to third base, where Jake Gelof made a diving stop and got the force out at second to end the inning.
UVA went back in front on an RBI single from Casey Saucke in the top of the third, knocking Arguelles out of the game, but Virginia Tech came right back in the bottom of the third and loaded the bases with just one out. Kevin Jaxel replaced Blanco and yielded a run on a sacrifice fly, but did well to get out of the inning with no further damage.
Virginia regained the lead in the top of the fourth on back-to-back doubles from Jake Gelof and Kyle Teel. For awhile, the score remained 5-4 as the UVA pitching staff managed to keep the Hokies at bay through the fourth and fifth innings thanks to the efforts of Kevin Jaxel.
Brian O'Connor brought in Jake Berry in the sixth and, simply put, Berry did not have it on Sunday. After a single from Carson Jones, Jack Hurley hammered a ball over the wall in right field for a clutch two-run home run, giving Virginia Tech a 7-6 lead. UVA had a chance to respond with two runners on in the seventh, but Griff O'Ferrall grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Berry remained on the mound in the seventh and gave up a pair of walks and then a dagger of a three-run home run to Chris Cannizzaro to make it 10-6.
Virginia got one back in the eighth on an RBI double from Anthony Stephan, but Casey Saucke lined out to center field to strand runners on second and third. The Cavaliers left 12 runners on base in the game, 10 of which were in scoring position. The pitching struggles continued for UVA in the bottom of the eighth as Jay Woolfolk gave up a pair of solo home runs to Jack Hurley and Brody Donay to give Virginia Tech a commanding 12-7 advantage entering the final frame.
Jonah Hurney retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to seal the victory and the series for Virginia Tech. The win also earns a point for the Hokies in the 2022-2023 Commonwealth Clash, which is now tied 7.0-7.0. See the full list of events and scores for the 2022-2023 Commonwealth Clash here.
After suffering its first ACC series loss of the season, Virginia falls to 24-4 overall and 8-4 in ACC play. UVA will remain on the road for another in-state game at Liberty on Tuesday at 6pm in Lynchburg.
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