Virginia Baseball Falls at Old Dominion for First Midweek Loss in Two Years

For the first time in nearly two calendar years, Virginia baseball suffered a midweek non-conference loss.

After previously defeating the Monarchs twice at home this season by a combined 12-0 margin, the Cavaliers didn't have it going on either side of the ball as Old Dominion (19-17) handed No. 10 Virginia (28-9) a 7-4 loss on Tuesday night at Harbor Park in Norfolk. It was UVA's first midweek regular season loss since April 19th, 2022, snapping a streak of 29-consecutive midweek wins.

Having failed to score a single run in 18 innings against UVA so far this season, the Monarchs put an end to that in the bottom of the first inning, as as Virginia starter Joe Savino gave up a pair of singles and then an RBI double from Kenny Levari before an error brought home two unearned runs.

ODU tacked on another run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Kyle Edwards to make it 4-0.

Virginia got on the board in the top of the third as Eric Becker singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Anderson. But that would UVA's only offensive breakthrough until a late rally in the ninth.

The Monarchs kept breaking off pieces of the UVA bullpen, scoring one run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the fifth on a two-run single from Evan Holman to give ODU a 7-1 lead.

Virginia was held scoreless from the third until the ninth inning, when Henry Ford, Harrison Didawick, and Jacob Ference each drew walks to load the bases with no outs. Antonio Perrotta scored Ford with a groundout and then Luke Hanson struck out swinging to put the Cavaliers down to their final out. Eric Becker and Griff O'Ferrall hit back-to-back RBI singles to keep the hopes alive, but then Ethan Anderson struck out swinging to end the game.

Virginia's offense, one of the most explosive in the country, was held to just seven hits, second fewest of the entire season, and did not have a single extra base hit for the first time in 2024.

Though a great crowd of 4,082 fans witnessed the game in person at Harbor Park, the game was not televised or streamed anywhere. If no one saw it, did it really happen?

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, a game doesn't need to be televised in order for it to count. The loss drops Virginia to 28-9 this season. UVA will have a quick opportunity to bounce back with another midweek game back at home against George Mason on Wednesday at 6pm at Disharoon Park before hosting Georgia Tech for a three-game series this weekend.