After a stunning performance against Florida State last weekend, the No. 5 Virginia baseball team came out unusually flat against Virginia Tech this weekend, dropping two of three games for just their second ACC series loss of the season. The Cavaliers picked up a 15-6 win Friday but were swept in the Saturday doubleheader, 5-3 and 11-6.
Dominant starting pitching was the main storyline against the Seminoles, but against the Hokies (27-18, 11-13 ACC), those same pitchers seemed overmatched. Freshman Brandon Waddell gave up six runs in 5.2 innings of work Friday, though he was backed by a strong offensive showing from his teammates. Virginia (38-8, 17-7 ACC) scored four runs in the second inning to jump out to a 4-1 lead and was up 9-3 by the sixth inning, when Waddell gave up three runs to narrow the lead to 9-6. Redshirt junior Whit Mayberry came on in relief, and the Cavaliers erupted for six runs in the seventh to go ahead 15-6 and put the game out of reach.
Due to forecasted rain for Sunday, the teams played a doubleheader on Saturday and once again, the Cavalier starting pitchers struggled. Virginia Tech struck first in Game 1, picking up two runs in the bottom of the first inning off of redshirt senior Scott Silverstein. The Cavaliers tied the game just an inning later with two runs of their own, but the Hokies pulled ahead 3-2 in the third inning. Sophomore Kenny Towns tied the game in the sixth with a home run, but the deadlock was short-lived as Virginia Tech chased Silverstein with two runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 5-3 and take the win.
The Hokie bats continued to be potent in the second game as Virginia Tech piled on seven runs in the first three innings off of sophomore Nick Howard, who lasted just 2.1 innings. Freshman Nate Kirby came on in relief but he did not fare much better, giving up 2 runs in just two thirds of an inning. With the team down 9-3 in the fourth, coach Brian O’Connor was forced to go to closer Kyle Crockett to settle things down. The junior was slightly more stable, but he still gave up two runs in 3.2 innings, and the Hokies ran away with the 11-6 win.
The Cavaliers now look to rebound as they head to Richmond Tuesday for a midweek matchup against Virginia Commonwealth.
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