Virginia Rides Offense to Avoid Sweep, Takes Game 3 at Miami 14-11
It required another explosive effort from the UVA bats to overcome another subpar showing from the Cavalier pitching staff, but Virginia managed to avoid the sweep and win a game in Coral Gables for the first time since 2016. Casey Saucke homered twice, the second of which tied the game in the eighth inning, and then the Cavaliers scored three runs in the top of the ninth and held on in the bottom half as Virginia (13-3, 1-2 ACC) took a 14-11 victory against Miami (9-6, 2-1 ACC) in game 3 on Sunday afternoon.
Through the first 10 games of the season, Virginia had struggled early in games, but had shown a penchant for rallying and earning comeback wins. That trend reversed itself this weekend, as UVA grabbed early and commanding leads in all three games, but ended up in a dogfight late in all three and managed to win only the finale.
Virginia jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game 1, but lost 6-5, then led 12-3 in game 2, but collapsed and fell 16-12. In game 3 on Sunday, the Cavaliers again got off to a hot start with four runs in the top of the second. Luke Hanson hit an RBI single, Bobby Whalen brought in another run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Anthony Stephan hit a single up the middle to score two more runs to give UVA the 4-0 lead.
Jay Woolfolk gave Virginia a quality start on the mound, blanking Miami through the first three frames before Jake Kulikowski got the Canes on the board with a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth. UVA fired back with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, but Woolfolk ran into more trouble in the bottom half, putting two runners on and then giving up a three-run home run by Dorian Gonzalez. Angelo Tonas came in and hit a batter and walked another to allow another run to score, tying the game at 6-6.
Virginia reestablished its four-run lead in the top of the sixth as Henry Ford hit a double into the gap in right center to score two runs and then Casey Saucke went opposite field for a two-run home run to make it 10-6.
That lead didn't hold either, though, as Virginia's bullpen issues persisted. Kevin Jaxel gave up an RBI double and Blake Barker threw a wild pitch to allow another run to score in the bottom of the sixth. Barker had more trouble in the bottom of the seventh, giving up a solo homer to Lucas Costello and then a two-run home run to Blake Cyr, giving the Hurricanes their first lead of the game at 11-10.
This time, the UVA bats had another rally in the tank, as Saucke went deep to right-center field for his second home run of the game to tie the game at 11-11 in the top of the eighth.
Miami had a chance to go in front again as Matt Augustin gave up two singles and a walked a batter to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but the freshman righty struck out the next two batters to escape the inning unscathed and keep it a tie ball game entering the ninth inning.
Griff O'Ferrall opened the ninth with a single and then stole second base. A sacrifice fly from Stephan moved O'Ferrall to third and then he scored on an RBI single by Henry Ford. Saucke drew a walk and then Harrison Didawick hit a double into the gap in right-center to score two runs, giving Virginia a 14-11 lead.
Jack O'Connor entered the game in a save situation and, although he faced some serious pressure with the Hurricanes loading the bases with two outs, O'Connor came through and managed to secure the win for the Cavaliers to avoid the sweep. O'Connor was credited with the save while Augustin earned his first-career win.
Casey Saucke went 4 for 5 with two home runs and three RBI and three runs scored and Henry Ford was 2 for 6 with three RBI and two runs scored, while a total of five Cavaliers registered multiple hits.
Virginia avoided the sweep and showed it has some serious offensive power in the lineup, scoring 31 runs on the weekend, but the fact that UVA still lost the series serves as clear evidence of the major issues the Cavaliers have in their pitching staff right now.
Virginia returns home to face William & Mary on Tuesday at 4pm before welcoming Wake Forest to Charlottesville for a three-game series this weekend.
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