Following an abbreviated game against George Washington courtesy of an 11-0 run-rule victory, the Cavaliers took the field on Friday afternoon with eyes set on another series sweep as they hosted VCU for the second weekend series of the year.
Coach Chris Pollard handed the ball to sophomore left-hander Henry Zatkowski, who suffered two rocky starts in the opening series against Wagner. He looked to right the ship against a Rams (4-5, 0-0 A10) squad coming off four losses out of their last five matchups.
Right the ship he did, setting down the first 10 VCU hitters in order and striking out five of them. Flashing a highly accurate fastball with sweeping breaking balls coming from a three-quarters delivery, Zatkowski was able to induce weak contact through the first three frames, setting the stage for the Cavaliers (8-1, 0-0 ACC) to take over on offense.
Virginia’s intentions were clear from the jump, with junior shortstop Eric Becker launching a ball into the left-centerfield bleachers for a solo home run to begin proceedings in the bottom of the first.
The Cavaliers’ free swinging did not prove fruitful until the third inning, as they struck out in order in the second. A home run to straightaway center from graduate student catcher Noah Jouras, hitting ninth in the order, got Virginia going again in the third.
Two quick walks to junior first baseman Quinn Maher and sophomore catcher Jacob Lee meant there were two runners on with just one out when Zatkowski conceded a double to sophomore second baseman Nick Flores off the left field wall. Maher scored on the double and Lee came across subsequently thanks to a sacrifice fly, tying the score at two apiece.
The Cavaliers responded quickly, though, as two runs came in similar fashion with sophomore Zach Jackson and junior Kyle Johnson drawing walks and subsequently scoring on a double to the left field wall by Becker.
Junior outfielder AJ Gracia snuck a ground ball through the shift to score Becker from second, the Cavaliers’ third run in the fourth inning — and enough for a 5-2 advantage.
Zatkowski returned to form in the fifth and the sixth, allowing no hits and retiring the Rams in order. By the time Pollard turned to graduate reliever Lucas Hartman to start the seventh, he had given up only one hit and struck out eight en route to the longest start of the year for any Virginia arm thus far.
For the Cavaliers, the bats quieted in the middle innings. A single in the fifth from senior Harrison Didawick was the only sign of life until three straight reached base in the seventh. Virginia did not capitalize, however, and the Cavaliers had to rely on their bullpen to maintain a precarious lead.
Virginia’s late-game contingent was up for the task. Hartman, senior righty Kevin Jaxel and graduate student Tyler Kapa combined for three innings of one-run ball, culminating in a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts from Kapa.
For the Cavalier faithful viewing Friday’s victory, the start turned in by Zatkowski was a revelation.
“I thought it was just a tremendous bounce-back outing from Henry,” Coach Pollard said following the win. “He could’ve gone back out there in the seventh, but I wanted to get him out of there at 80 pitches and get him out of there on a good note so that we can have him ready to go as we start ACC play next week.”
The Cavaliers now enter the weekend with an 8-1 record, the only blemish on their resume being a narrow defeat to Stetson. Two more matchups with VCU await them — one comes Saturday at Disharoon Park once again, and the other comes in Richmond for the Sunday series finale.
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