The Virginia baseball team (19-13, 8-7 ACC) won two games of a three-game series against Notre Dame (12-17, 7-8 ACC) over the weekend at Frank Eck Field. The Cavaliers won both games of a doubleheader Saturday to claim the series after dropping the opener Friday.
Game 1: Notre Dame 5, Virginia 2
Sophomore left-hander Tommy Sheehan pitched a complete game for Notre Dame as they beat Virginia in the first game of the series. Sheehan gave up two runs — only one of which was earned — on nine hits.
The Fighting Irish scored a run in the second and two each in the third and fourth innings to go ahead of the Cavaliers 5-0. Virginia clawed a run back in the fifth on an RBI groundout by junior catcher Logan Michaels, scoring senior first baseman Nate Eikhoff.
Virginia senior right-hander Chesdin Harrington pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief — keeping the Fighting Irish off the scoreboard — before the Cavaliers scored another run in the eighth on a bunt single by freshman second baseman Nic Kent, driving in junior left fielder Cayman Richardson.
However, the Cavaliers failed to score again and lost the first game of an ACC series for the first time in four series.
Game 2: Virginia 12, Notre Dame 7
The Cavaliers scored 12 runs — including four in the ninth inning — to win the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Notre Dame went ahead first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning off Virginia’s starter, junior right-hander Noah Murdock. The Cavaliers made it 3-1 in the second on a sacrifice fly by Eikhoff.
In the fourth inning, Eikhoff hit a two-run homer to right field — his first of the season — to tie the game at three apiece. A triple by Kent in the fifth scored Richardson and put Virginia ahead, then sophomore designated hitter Brendan Rivoli added a run to the Virginia lead.
Virginia scored two more runs in the sixth on RBI doubles by Richardson and sophomore shortstop Tanner Morris, but Notre Dame scored two runs each in the seventh and eighth to close the Cavalier lead to a single run.
In the ninth, Morris and Kent each drew walks with the bases loaded, then Virginia scored two more runs on a Notre Dame error. Sophomore right-hander Kyle Whitten finished the game on the mound for his fifth save of the season.
Game 3: Virginia 6, Notre Dame 5
Virginia won the final game of the series after an eighth-inning comeback and a Notre Dame rally in the ninth that fell short when senior center fielder Cameron Simmons tracked down a Notre Dame base runner at second base before the tying run scored.
Notre Dame again took the early lead, 3-0 in the bottom of the third on a three-run homer by sophomore third baseman Niko Kavadas off Virginia freshman right-hander Mike Vasil. The three runs were the only ones Vasil surrendered in 6.2 innings of work.
A single by Morris and a sacrifice fly by Kent in the sixth made the score 3-2. Kent then tied the game in the eighth with an RBI single, scoring Richardson. Rivoli hit a double to right to put the Cavaliers ahead, then Eikhoff drew a walk with the bases loaded to make it 5-3.
Michaels scored another run for Virginia in the ninth on a passed ball. Notre Dame scored two more runs in the ninth. Freshman left fielder Jack Zyska appeared to cross the plate and score the tying run, but Kavadas was tagged out at second after rounding the base before Zyska scored.
Whitten earned the save again in the nightcap — his sixth of the season. He became the first Virginia pitcher to save both games of a doubleheader since 2011.
The Cavaliers play again this Tuesday in Harrisonburg against James Madison at 6 p.m.
Read More
Virginia softball fumbles last home game of the season to Virginia Tech
By Eleanor Lynch | 23 hours agoThe Hokies shut out the Cavaliers, who continue to show immense struggles at the plate.
Hoos in the NBA Playoffs
By Oliver Blair | YesterdayThe NBA Playoffs are tipping off imminently, and many of Virginia’s former heroes will be chasing the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
No. 5 women’s tennis closes out the regular season with back-to-back victories against No. 19 Miami and No. 23 Florida State
By Grace Gould | 2 days agoThe weekend’s victories ended what has been a very strong regular season on a high note and cemented an undefeated home record.
