The Cavaliers came out of the gate strong yesterday, tagging Coppin State freshman pitcher Drew Boyer for six runs in the first inning. Virginia (7-1) added another six and won 12-0 in a game that was called after seven innings.
"A six [run] spot in the bottom of the first is a great boost, especially for a pitcher," freshman pitcher Neal Davis said.
Despite the lopsided score, Virginia coach Brian O'Connor expected more from his team against Coppin State (0-4), which has a 13-man roster and only two pitchers.
"Baseball's a crazy game," O'Connor said. "We really did not hit that many balls hard today. It should have taught our team, as well as their team, if you throw strikes and throw the ball to the plate, you've got a chance. I looked up [at the scoreboard] after a couple innings and they had given up six or eight runs and we had really only hit about three balls hard."
O'Connor used yesterday's game as a chance to play some players that wouldn't normally see playing time.
Senior catcher Ryan Hudson saw time at first base, freshman pitcher Matt Packer was in the lineup as designated hitter and senior John Scaglione played the whole game at second base.
"I just like the fact that we can score runs from anywhere in our lineup," O'Connor said.
Despite the slightly unfamiliar names in the Virginia lineup, big numbers were not absent.
Freshman shortstop Tyler Cannon went two for three with two RBIs and two runs scored, and the Cavaliers played hard through the whole game, stealing three bases.
"We don't take any team any lighter than others," Davis said. "[O'Connor] told me to go out there and throw strikes, have confidence, and the way we've been playing the last few days
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