CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - There is light at the end of the tunnel for the Virginia baseball team.
After losing 10 of their last 11 games, the Cavaliers (19-20, 6-12 ACC) solidly defeated North Carolina, 5-2, Sunday at Boshamer Stadium. The victory ended a three-game series at Chapel Hill, in which the Tar Heels (23-18, 5-10 ACC) won on Friday by a 10-6 margin and on Saturday 7-6.
Senior Brandon Creswell earned a complete game victory in Sunday's win. Creswell (6-2) scattered six hits and only one earned run over the course of the game. The Cavalier southpaw also struck out six and didn't walk a single Carolina batter.
"My pitches were working for me," he said. "I was hitting the outside corner pretty well, and got all my offspeeds over for strikes. I think that was a big key factor in getting these guys out."
Tar Heel starter Scott Autrey took the loss. Autrey (1-3) gave up four runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and four bases on balls.
Virginia struck first in the top of the third inning. With Cavalier third baseman Jeff Kamrath on first, leadoff hitter David Stone laid a perfect bunt down the third base line. In a desperate attempt to throw out Stone, Carolina third baseman Russ Adams threw the ball away, allowing Kamrath to score and Stone to advance to second. Second baseman Shawn McCleary, the next batter, singled in Stone to give the Cavaliers a two-run lead.
Virginia increased its lead in the sixth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Autrey threw a wild pitch, which scored shortstop Hunter Wyant. Right fielder Chris Sweet lined a single into left field, bringing designated hitter Jon Benick across the plate. Autrey walked center fielder Doug Vroman to load the bases again, but Carolina brought in reliever Daniel Moore, who got Kamrath to ground into a double play to end the rally.
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The Cavaliers scored their final run in the seventh inning. McCleary and Wyant both singled with one out and advanced to second and third on a throwing error by Tar Heel center fielder Adam Greenberg. Benick, who leads Virginia with 39 runs batted in, brought in McCleary with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Carolina scored a run in each of the last two innings but never seriously threatened the Cavalier lead. Virginia finished the game with nine hits, all singles.
"I thought we played solid all day," said Virginia head coach Dennis Womack. "We made solid plays, just making plays when we had to make them, and that's how you win."
In Friday's game, Carolina blew open the game with a six-run seventh inning to take a 9-2 lead. Tar Heel pitcher Dennis Robinson (3-3) fanned 13 batters in eight innings to take the win, and Virginia's Joseph Koshansky (3-4) gave up eight runs in a losing effort. Wyant and Benick both had two-run homers in the losing cause.
In Saturday's match, Virginia blew a 3-0 lead largely because of atrocious defense. The Cavaliers committed six errors on the day, which allowed three unearned runs. JuniorDan Street (2-4) took the loss, and Carolina's Ralph Roberts (2-1) earned the win.
"I told them I wasn't gonna feed them anymore if they didn't play any better," Womack said.
Virginia's next game is today at home against James Madison (21-16-1) at 3 p.m.
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