Virginia Stumbles Late, Drops Series Opener at Miami 6-5
The Cavaliers held a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning, giving them the inside track on a series-opening win, but the Hurricanes scored three runs in back-to-back innings as Miami (8-5, 1-0 ACC) rallied to hand No. 13 Virginia (12-2, 0-1 ACC) a 6-5 loss in game 1 on Friday night in Coral Gables.
UVA starter Cullen McKay had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning and posted a career-high eight strikeouts. The Cavalier bats provided him with an early lead on a two-run opposite field home run by Harrison Didawick in the top of the second inning.
Anthony Stephan hit a leadoff double in the top of the third and came around to score on a throwing error to make it 3-0. Virginia stretched that lead to 4-0 in the sixth, as Eric Becker drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a Luke Hanson single, advanced to third on a popup, and then scored on a Stephan single.
Miami turned the tide in the bottom half of the sixth as an error, a single, and a walk loaded the bases with one out and chased McKay from the game. Chase Hungate came into a tough situation and gave up an RBI groundout and then a two-run double to Jack Scanlon to make it 4-3 before striking out the next batter to end the inning.
The Cavaliers got one run back in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Eric Becker to make it 5-3, but the Hurricanes fired back with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to take control of the game. Angelo Tonas started on the mound in the bottom half and loaded the bases on a single, an error, and a hit-by-pitch. He took a big step in getting out of that jam as the next batter hit a line drive to Luke Hanson, who turned an unassisted double-play at third base. Tonas was then taken out of the game in favor of Blake Barker, who gave up a three-run home run to Daniel Cuvet, giving the lead to Miami for good.
Virginia managed a single in the eighth and ninth, but couldn't capitalize on either baserunner as Miami went on to take the series opener 6-5.
Cullen McKay ended up with a no-decision despite delivering an exceptional start with zero earned runs (three unearned runs) on just two hits and eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. Anthony Stephan went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored and Harrison Didawick was 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Virginia will look to even the series with Miami in game 2 on Saturday at 6pm.
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