The first inning is usually an indicator of how the game will go for Virginia. Coach Chris Pollard’s team is 17-0 this season when they score in the first.
Friday night’s first inning against Wake Forest was particularly noteworthy. Junior ace pitcher Kyle Johnson took the mound for the first time this season, serving as an opener for sophomore lefty Henry Zatkowski.
Johnson, a two-way player, had not pitched yet this season due to concerns over a left arm injury. Pollard elected to primarily keep Johnson as a designated hitter — but the pitching debut was well worth the wait for the Cavaliers (19-4, 5-2 ACC).
“Our dugout was absolutely electric to have him back on the field,” Pollard said. “He fed off that. His stuff was really, really good.”
Pollard’s top pitcher swiftly moved through one inning of work in just 10 pitches, with two strikeouts. His Cavaliers made sure to give him ample run support.
By evening’s end, Virginia authored a 10-6 ranked victory at Disharoon Park.
Every starter recorded either a run or a hit in the impressive showing on offense. In an interesting twist, though, Wake Forest had more base runners in terms of both hits and walks — but the Demon Deacons (16-6, 3-4 ACC) still lost.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead on the first Demon Deacon pitch of the game as junior shortstop Eric Becker belted a home run 400 feet to deep right field. Then junior outfielder AJ Gracia walked, junior first baseman Sam Harris singled and junior second baseman Joe Tiroly reached on an error.
The hits kept coming — and Virginia led 5-0 after a disastrous start on the mound for junior pitcher Blake Morningstar and Wake Forest. Virginia ended up tacking on eight runs during Morningstar’s brief three-inning start.
The Demon Deacons did provide an initial retort — homering off of Zatkowski’s first pitch in the top of the second inning — but they were trailing comfortably for most of the game. Wake Forest scored again in the fourth off of a fielding error by junior third baseman Noah Murray yet was swiftly met with another Virginia response.
After the Demon Deacons cut their deficit to 5-2, the Cavaliers added three more in the bottom of the fourth inning. This time, Virginia tacked on multiple runs via small ball. Sophomore outfielder Zach Jackson got the inning started as he was hit by a pitch and then stole second base. Junior catcher Jake Weatherspoon then reached on an error by Wake Forest’s shortstop and Becker was plunked by Morningstar, who departed the inning with no outs and the bases loaded.
One Gracia single and a Tiroly fielder’s choice later, and the Cavaliers quickly got to freshman reliever Marcelo Harsch. Then Tiroly stole second and advanced on a passed ball which led to Becker scoring. Virginia averages just one steal per game — but the Cavaliers produced two in the fourth inning Friday.
While the Cavaliers were busy lighting up the scoreboard, Zatkowski kept Virginia in control as he only allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings of work. The sophomore starter fanned seven batters and gave up just two extra base hits.
“What a great game manager, he pitched around some traffic and had to pitch through traffic on the bases,” Pollard said. “He isn’t scared of contact. He continues to execute what he does well, knowing that is who he is, and if he does that and repeats it, good things will happen.”
Zatkowski was followed by senior Kevin Jaxel and graduate Lucas Hartman out of the bullpen — and the Demon Deacons were able to tag three runs on that duo — but the Cavaliers’ 10 runs were too many to match.
Wake Forest could still be adapting to the departure of Coach Corey Muscara, their former pitching coach who left to become Duke’s head coach after Pollard came to Virginia this offseason. Muscara was regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in the nation and mentored several MLB Draft selections.
Friday evening, the Cavalier offense plowed through the post-Muscara pitching corps. But now a question arises — can Virginia do it again?
The series continues Saturday at 4 p.m. as sophomore lefty Max Stammel pits his 3-0 record against sophomore right-hander Chris Levonas of Wake Forest. If the Cavaliers can win game two, they would enhance their record against ranked teams to a pristine 4-1.
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