The Virginia baseball team started slow, but they picked up in a hurry.
Down 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Cavaliers exploded for six runs and then scored five in the sixth inning for a 13-3 victory over Towson. The Cavaliers swept Towson in the series, a bounce back from their performance in their loss to Old Dominion Wednesday in their home opener.
One of the unsung heroes in the game for the Cavaliers was back up catcher Matt Bernstine. He went three-for-three in the game, scoring three runs and driving in two. Bernstine helped jump-start the rally in the fourth inning with his two-run double that tied the game at three. Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said he appreciated Bernstine stepping up when given the opportunity to play.
"Matt is a very team-oriented guy," O'Connor said. "He hasn't gotten an opportunity to play much here. He just does his job and works hard. Today, he was getting an opportunity to start and he took advantage of it and swung the bat well and he also caught the ball well."
The game, however, wasn't completely satisfying for the Cavaliers though. Starting pitcher Robert Poutier was shaky Sunday, going two innings and allowing two hits, three runs and four walks, while only striking out two.
"Robert [Poutier] just didn't have his good stuff," O'Connor said. "His command was not there. He gave up some free walks and Towson took advantage of it. After that first inning, he just didn't have his command that he needs to win."
Contrary to Wednesday's loss to Old Dominion, however, pitcher Pat McAnaney came in for Poutier and pitched a strong five innings, allowing three hits, no runs and no walks, while striking out seven. McAnaney said he felt he was more comfortable pitching today in comparison to Wednesday.
"Wednesday, I was just sort of shell-shocked right off the bat," McAnaney said. "Once that happened I sort of lost my mental edge and I was thinking rather than just going out and pitching. Today, I really didn't have time to think."
Virginia started three freshmen infielders who all did well. Third baseman Jeremy Ferrell went two for three with two runs and two RBIs.
Shortstop Greg Miclat had a bunt single along with a sacrifice bunt. Second baseman David Adams went three for four with two runs and an RBI. Miclat and Adams also combined to start two double plays.
"Having three freshmen out on the infield and having them play great defense is really going to be important for us all year," O'Connor said.
Also, unlike Wednesday's game, the Cavaliers played a style of baseball more comfortable to them, bunting and stealing while playing solid defensive baseball. The Cavaliers even bunted with two strikes in the count, but O'Connor said he believes that that is necessary to be a championship contender.
"We do a bunt scrimmage practically every day in practice," O'Connor said. "There are times, if you want to win championships, where you have to execute those kind of things. You don't traditionally see that, but when you have opportunities to move two runners up and stay out of a double play, you have to do it."
The Cavaliers hope to continue playing strongly Tuesday when they face Virginia Commonwealth University.
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