Ninth-ranked Virginia broke open a close game with a nine-run rally in the bottom of the eighth to put away Maryland, 16-6, on Tuesday, in a game played at Virginia Credit Union Stadium in Fredericksburg, the home of the Fredericksburg Nationals, the Low-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
The ’Hoos (21-5) actually trailed 6-5 going into the bottom of the seventh, taking the lead with a two-spot, fueled by an RBI double from Harrison Didawick, and, one batter later, a Noah Murray RBI single.
The bottom of the eighth was a mess for the Terps (11-13), with UVA loading the bases with nobody out, getting a run across on a bases-loaded walk to AJ Gracia, then, after Sam Harris struck out, Joe Tiroly emptied the bases with a three-run double that got the score to 11-6.
Didawick grounded out for out #2 of the inning.
Murray followed with another RBI single, and Kyle Johnson and Jake Weatherspoon walked to re-load the bases, ahead of a Zack Jackson RBI walk, and a wild pitch that scored Johnson from third.
Eric Becker was able to walk the game off with a two-run double.
Wild stuff there.
Probably a good reason that Maryland is under .500.
Matt Augustin (2-0, 4.15 ERA) got the win in relief, with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two.
Tyler Kapa got the save in the 10-run win, because he struck out two in a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, with the one-run lead.