Baseball returned to Davenport Field this weekend, and the Cavaliers took advantage of the comforts of home to complete a three-game sweep of Bucknell University. Virginia (5-2) was fueled by errorless defense, strong pitching performances and timely hitting led by junior third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
On Friday afternoon, the Cavaliers sent junior Mike Ballard to the mound. Ballard continued to show that his arm is fully healthy after sitting out the 2004 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. He pitched eight innings and allowed two runs on eight hits while striking out three, to improve his record on the young season to 2-0.
The Cavaliers got off to an early lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI base hit up the middle by Zimmerman and a sacrifice fly to right-field off the bat of junior left-fielder Tom Hagan. In the third inning, Virginia capitalized on a porous Bison defense to add two unearned runs to its lead. In the bottom of the fourth, freshman designated hitter Brandon Guyer led off with his first collegiate homerun. The bomb, which was of the inside-the-park variety, caromed off the left-center field wall. Freshman right-hander Robert Poutier replaced Ballard in the 9th and retired the three Bison hitters he faced to secure the series-opening win for Virginia.
Saturday Cavalier fans got to see a twin-bill of action at Davenport Field as expected inclement weather moved Sunday's game to 1 p.m. For Virginia fans who braved the brisk temperatures, the performance on the field did not disappoint. In the first game of the doubleheader, junior Matt Avery notched his first victory of the season, stifling the Bucknell offense for eight and two-thirds innings of six-hit, shutout baseball. He struck out eight Bison. Sophomore Casey Lambert picked up the save by striking out Brian Day to ensure a series victory for the Cavaliers. Virginia scored the only runs it would need in the bottom of the third on a two-run base hit to left-center field off the bat of Zimmerman
"It was nice to get that first win under my belt," said Avery, whose record improved to 1-1.
To go for the series sweep, Virginia sent senior Jeff Kamrath to the mound. Kamrath, who also is returning from Tommy John surgery, put forth a strong effort, going for six innings while giving up four hits and one run while striking out six.
"They're both pitching great baseball," Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor said of Ballard and Kamrath. "They're able to pitch deep into ball games and they have a good strength level and effectiveness. Fortunately for both of those players, it's been a year and a half since their surgery. Michael and Jeff went through their difficult times this fall and they're through that."
In the field, the Bison lived up to their namesake, looking slow and awkward while committing seven errors. Zimmerman continued playing his role as an offensive catalyst, going 2-4 while driving in four runs. He went 5-12 during the series, driving in eight runs and scoring twice. He also showed his defensive versatility, starting the third game at shortstop rather than at his normal third base perch.
Virginia's bullpen closed out the game with solid outings from sophomore Alex Smith and senior Josh Myers.
"It was nice to build a comfortable lead so we could get some young players out there and get them a little bit of experience," O'Connor said. "Patrick Wingfield and Anthony Martinez got the first hits of their college careers and that was great to see."
The Cavaliers will look to carry momentum from this weekend's series into Wednesday's contest at home against Old Dominion. Virginia will seek to avenge last week's 9-6 loss at ODU.
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