Behind a complete-game two-hitter from Adam Haseley (So., Windermere, Fla.), the No. 8 Virginia baseball team downed Virginia Tech, 4-1, Saturday to complete a three-game series sweep at Davenport Field. The game was part of the Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529.
Virginia enters tournament play with a 36-18 record, including a 19-11 mark in ACC play. UVA has won 11 of its last 12 games. With the win, 13th-year head coach Brian O’Connor recorded his 594th career win, matching Dennis Womack (1981-2003) for the program record. Virginia Tech completes its season with a 19-36 record and a 6-24 record in the ACC.
Haseley (8-3) tossed his first career complete game, allowing just an unearned run and two hits while not walking a batter. He struck out three. He fired the fourth complete game by a UVA pitcher in the last 11 games.
“I think we are pitching with a lot of confidence and have for the last five weeks,” O’Connor said. “I knew Coach Kuhn would get these guys on the right track. That’s what he does and he’s done it for many years, and he does a terrific job with it.”
UVA finished with six hits, with Matt Thaiss (Jr., Jackson, N.J.) and Haseley each recording two hits. Daniel Pinero (Jr., Toronto, Ontario) had a two-run double.
Jon Woodcock (1-8) took the loss for Virginia Tech after allowing four runs (three earned), six hits and four walks in six innings. Ryan Tufts had both of the Hokies’ hits.
Virginia used a two-out rally to score three runs and bolt to an early lead in the first inning. Thaiss and Pavin Smith (So., Jupiter, Fla.) hit back-to-back singles before Pinero bounced a double down the left-field line to plate a pair. Haseley followed with an RBI single to center.
Virginia Tech got its first hit in the fourth inning on a leadoff single from Tufts. He moved to second on a passed ball and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Phil Sciretta.
UVA scored its final run in the sixth inning. With one out and Jack Gerstenmaier (So., Richmond, Va.) on first, Cameron Simmons (Fr., Royersford, Pa.) hit a grounder that Tufts booted at shortstop, allowing Gerstenmaier to move to third. Ernie Clement (So., Rochester, N.Y.) then hit a sac fly to right-center to bring home the run.
Virginia begins postseason play this week at the ACC Baseball Championship at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. The Cavaliers have earned the No. 3 seed. The full brackets will be unveiled Sunday.
The Commonwealth Clash presented by Virginia529 is a head-to-head, points-based competition between the athletic teams at University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Commonwealth Clash encourages a friendly, statewide rivalry between the two schools across all school-sponsored sports with 21 individual event points on the line. The school that accumulates 11 points or more will be crowned the winner and take home the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash trophy. Visit www.TheCommonwealthClash.com for more information. UVA finished with a 14-7 advantage in the overall competition in 2015-16 to win the Commonwealth Clash for the second straight year.
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Chris Graham
