Down two runs in the top of the ninth, UVA (9-8, 2-2 ACC) scored three times to come away with a 9-8, series-opening win over Georgia Tech (11-7, 1-3 ACC) at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Cavaliers scored in each of their last four at bats with seven of their nine runs coming in the sixth inning and later.
Cameron Simmons (Royersford, Pa.) drove in the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly that scored Tanner Morris (Crozet, Va.). The first five batters of the top of the ninth reached base to ignite the rally. Morris pulled the Cavaliers within a run on a double that scored Nic Kent (Charlottesville, Va.) and Brendan Rivoli (Douglassville, Pa.) tied the game up with a single up the middle, his fourth hit of the night.
One of Rivoli’s career-high four hits was his first home run of the season, a two-run blast to give Virginia a 2-0 lead three batters into the game. He finished the night 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Simmons had a season-best, three hits in a 3-for-4 effort, his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
“That was a total team effort,” head coach Brian O’Connor said. “We got excellent contributions from so many different guys and our guys continued to fight and they didn’t quit. Winning games on the road in this league is difficult and Georgia Tech as a very good ball club. I’ll say this, that was one of the better wins we’ve had in our program in a little while and I’m just really proud of our guys.”
In the half inning prior, Georgia Tech broke a 6-6 tie when Kyle McCann bounced a double over the wall for a ground-rule double, allowing one of the two runners on base to score. A second run came in on a fielder’s choice to make the score 8-6.
McCann was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. His home run in the bottom of the second was his 11th of the year and put Georgia Tech on the scoreboard.
The Cavaliers trailed by as many as three runs and the ninth inning rally was their first lead since the second inning.
Relief pitcher Devin Ortiz (Irvington, N.J.) was credited with his first win of the season and second of his career. He escaped a bases loaded jam in the eighth by stabbing an inning-ending comebacker off the bat of Baron Radcliff. Sophomore Kyle Whitten (Manassas, Va.) came on in the ninth and worked around a two-out walk to record his first career save.
The middle game of a three-game set will be on Saturday (March 16) at 2 p.m. On the mound for Virginia will be righthander Griff McGarry who will be opposed by lefty Connor Thomas. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra and can also be heard live on VirginiaSports.com
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Chris Graham
