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Cavs calm 'Canes, win three-game series

Despite nine-game win streak's conclusion Sunday, sizzling lineup powers baseball to successful weekend

Sunday at Davenport Field, the No. 6 Virginia baseball team found itself in a rare position — the losing end of a game. Though the loss prevented a Cavalier sweep and snapped Virginia’s nine-game win streak, it was not enough to put a damper on another strong weekend from the Cavaliers, who downed the Hurricanes 15-4 Friday and 8-1 Saturday to take the series win.

“In the game of baseball, you’re not meant to win every game,” coach Brian O’Connor said. “We’re 25-3 in our first 28 and we’re at the midway point in the year. That’s pretty special — there aren’t many people that are playing at that clip.”

The Cavaliers (25-3, 9-3 ACC) sent Brandon Waddell to the mound against Miami (20-11, 5-7 ACC) in Friday’s opener, but the freshman suffered through an uncharacteristically uneven performance. He gave up a run on four hits in the top of the first inning and seemed to lack the precise control that has powered him so far this year. After two strong innings in the second and third, he allowed the first four runners on base to open the fourth inning and was pulled by O’Connor before getting an out. Miami was able to plate three runs in the inning to tie the game at 4-4.

“I don’t think there was anything [wrong] mechanically,” O’Connor said. “The kid’s still a freshman, he’s not perfect … I really believe he was trying to do too much. Then he got himself into a bit of a rut and had a tough time throwing a strike.”

Junior Austin Young relieved Waddell and was able to keep the Hurricanes stuck at four runs in 3.2 innings of relief. Meanwhile, Virginia’s offense effectively offset Waddell’s rough start. Sophomore centerfielder Brandon Downes racked up five RBIs on two hits, including a three-run home run, and senior second baseman Reed Gragnani had four RBIs on two hits. The Cavaliers exploded for nine runs in the eighth inning to turn a 6-4 game into a rout.

Sophomore outfielder Mike Papi had another fantastic day, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and starting in place of sophomore Derek Fisher, who remains day-to-day with an ankle injury. The outburst pushed Papi to an 18-for-26 batting streak in the last two weeks and provides the second-year star with compelling evidence that he should feature in the starting lineup more often even when Fisher comes back.

“Obviously Mike Papi stepped in there in left field and had a really big day for us offensively,” O’Connor said. “He’s been swinging the bat as good as anybody the last couple weeks. … I think he showed what he’s made of and how he’s developed as a player.”

In the second game, the Cavaliers’ offense heated up quickly again Saturday as they jumped out a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning on four hits. The lead provided more than enough cushion for redshirt senior starter Scott Silverstein, who pitched 6.2 innings of one-run ball to keep the Hurricanes at bay. Virginia turned a relatively close 4-1 game into a second consecutive laugher with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the eighth inning.

“One through nine, we’re stacked,” Papi said. “If I was an opposing pitcher, I would be afraid of everyone one through nine. I wouldn’t want to pitch against us.”

Sophomore pitcher Nick Howard started the Sunday finale as the Cavaliers looked for a second straight ACC sweep, but he struggled early on. After giving up two straight singles to open the game, Howard walked Miami junior Chantz Mack on a controversial ball-four call. O’Connor came out to argue the call, which negated a possible “caught stealing” at third base, and was ejected for just the third time in his 10-year career in Charlottesville. The Hurricanes were able to plate four runs in the inning to stake an early lead.

“Some calls weren’t going either team’s way,” Howard said. “I should be better and I should be there for my team more.”

Howard bounced back to throw 4.1 innings and hold Miami at four runs as the Virginia offense tried to respond. In the bottom of the second, Gragnani drove in two runs on a double, bringing his weekend RBI total to nine. Virginia threatened often, but was only able to pick up one run in the sixth inning to bring the game to 4-3.

“It’s just tough,” Howard said. “When you fall behind four runs, Miami’s got a good club, they always do, and that’s an uphill battle. You don’t want to put yourself in that situation very often, it’s difficult to overcome.”

It was just the Cavaliers’ third loss so far this season, ending a nine-game win streak. They will now head to Lynchburg Tuesday looking to bounce back against Liberty in a midweek matchup. The Flames (17-11, 6-3 Big South) come into Tuesday having taken two out of three games from conference foe Longwood during the weekend. This is the second game between the two teams this year, with Virginia earning a 7-2 win in Charlottesville March 13. The Cavaliers are hoping they can repeat that success and move past Sunday’s loss.

“[The Miami loss is] definitely a sour taste in our mouth right now,” Howard said. “But the good thing about baseball is we get to play again on Tuesday.”

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