UVa. starter Josh Sborz took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Then the wheels fell off for the second-ranked Cavs.
Clemson scored three in the sixth and four in the seventh, taking advantage of a rare off-day for Virginia’s top-ranked defense, which committed two errors and at least a couple of other key mental mistakes, en route to posting a 7-1 victory over the Cavs in front of more than 4,800 fans at Davenport Field in Charlottesville on Saturday.
Sborz (3-2) was masterful through five, striking out five, walking one and facing just one more than the minimum. But Clemson (21-13, 10-6 ACC) broke through in the sixth, getting an RBI single by Tyler Krieger for its first hit of the game to chase Sborz, who had walked two sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt to start the inning. Garrett Boulware greeted reliever Connor Jones with an RBI single that made it 2-0 Clemson, and an RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of Chris Okey pushed the Tiger lead to 3-0.
The Clemson fourspot in the seventh off reliever David Rosenberger broke the game open, the rally highlighted by a long two-run homer by Boulware following back-to-back RBI singles by Tyler Slaton and Krieger that made it 7-0.
Virginia (29-6, 13-4 ACC) did mount a threat in the eighth, getting an RBI fielder’s choice by Joe McCarthy. brandon downes struck out looking on a borderline 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded for the second out of the inning, and John LaPrise flew out to left to end the threat.
Clemson starter Daniel Gossett (4-0) pitched into the eighth, giving up a run on five hits in seven-plus. Coach Jack Leggett did make the curious move to user closer Matt Campbell to get the last two outs in the eighth and then finish out the ninth, throwing 48 pitches in the process.
The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Davenport.
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