North Carolina avoided a series sweep with a 4-2 victory over the top-ranked UVa. baseball team Sunday afternoon at Davenport Field. The game drew 4,681 fans, with the series bringing in 14,282 spectators, a program record for a three-game series, topping the total from the Clemson series last weekend.
Despite the loss Sunday, Virginia (33-7, 16-5 ACC) won the series and has claimed all seven of its ACC series this year. Branden Cogswell (Jr., Ballston Lake, N.Y.) and John La Prise (So., Exton, Pa.) each drove in runs for the Cavaliers.
Virginia starting pitcher Brandon Waddell (So., Houston, Texas) worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and eight hits while striking out one.
North Carolina starting pitcher Zac Gallen (4-3) earned the win after tossing 5 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs, six hits and two walks while striking out a pair. Reilly Hovis retired all 10 batters he faced in notching his third save.
Virginia used a two-out rally to score in the second inning. With two outs and Brandon Downes (Jr., South Plainfield, N.J.) on first base, Nate Irving (Jr., Yonkers, N.Y.) stroked a single to left. Cogswell then ripped a single up the middle to easily score Downes.
UNC (23-17, 10-11) tied the game in the next half inning on a Landon Lassiter sacrifice fly and took its first lead of the series in the fifth inning on a two-run home run by Michael Russell.
The Cavaliers chipped a run from the lead in the sixth inning. With one out, UVa put runners on first and third following back-to-back singles from Joe McCarthy (So., Scranton, Pa.) and Nick Howard (Jr., Olney, Md.). UNC brought in Hovis, and La Prise dragged a bunt down the first-baseline on the first pitch to bring home McCarthy.
North Carolina got the run right back in the seventh inning. With one out Parks Jordan singled. Whit Mayberry (R-Sr., Alexandria, Va.) entered in relief and uncorked a wild pitch, and the first batter, Korey Dunbar, reached on a fielding error. Russell singled to load the bases, and Wood Myers grounded to second, but shortstop Daniel Pinero (Fr., Toronto, Ontario) mishandled the throw and all hands were safe, with Jordan scoring on the fielder’s choice.
Virginia will play five of its next six games on the road, beginning Tuesday in a 7 p.m. contest at VCU. UVa will play host to Richmond at 6 p.m. Wednesday before traveling to No. 4 Florida State next weekend.
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