Edited by Chris Graham
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VMI scored six runs in the sixth inning to break open a close game en route to a 12-3 victory over the top-ranked Virginia baseball team Wednesday evening at Gray-Minor Stadium. The Cavaliers suffered their first midweek loss of the season.
John Barr (Jr., Ivyland, Pa.) homered and drove in a pair as part of a 2-for-3 night, while Stephen Bruno (Fr., Audubon, N.J.) stretched his hit streak to 15 games with a first-inning bunt single. Phil Gosselin (Jr., West Chester, Pa.) added two hits for Virginia (27-8).
UVa starter Whit Mayberry (Fr., Alexandria, Va.) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (four earned), six hits and one walk while striking out three in 3.2 innings of work. He fell to 1-2 on the season. UVa pitchers gave up a season-high 12 runs and 15 hits in the defeat.
Chris Duty (2-0) picked up the win with 3.0 innings of relief. He allowed an earned run, two hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Starter Jeremy Brown worked 3.1 innings and gave up two earned runs, five hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
Virginia put its first four runners on in the first inning, with Steven Proscia (So., Suffern, N.Y.) bringing in the Cavaliers’ first run when he was hit by a pitch. After a coaching visit at the mound, Brown rebounded to get Dan Grovatt (Jr., Tabernacle, N.J.) to hit into a 1-2-3 double play, then struck out John Hicks looking to get out of the inning.
VMI (29-5) scored three times in its half of the first. Sam Roberts drew a leadoff walk, then moved to third on a Cory Spangenberg double. Jordan Ballard followed with a two-run single up the middle to give VMI the 2-1 lead. Ballard later scored on a UVa error.
The Cavaliers added a run in the fourth on a Barr single to score Hicks with one out. Gosselin then walked to load the bases, but reliever Chris Duty came in and struck out Tyler Cannon (Sr., Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) and Bruno to escape.
VMI scored with two out in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Roberts.
Virginia got a run back in the sixth inning when Barr crushed a solo home run over the scoreboard in left-center field for his first career homer.
VMI stretched its lead by sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six times in the sixth inning. The Keydets loaded the bases with one out against Justin Thompson (So., Danville, Va.) before Corey Hunt (R-Jr., Charlottesville, Va.) entered in relief. On a 3-2 pitch Roberts ripped a two-run single to right and Spangenberg followed with an infield single to score Jacob Morley. After Ballard hit a sacrifice fly, Graham Sullivan hit a run-scoring double. Chad O’Connor (R-Fr., Chesapeake, Va.) entered and gave up an RBI double to Tanner Biagini before getting Justin Topping to ground out to end the inning.
VMI added its final tally in the seventh inning when Rob Dickinson hit a solo home run to right-center.
Virginia looks to bounce back this weekend when it plays host to No. 20 Virginia Tech in a three-game ACC series at Davenport Field. Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance for the series. The teams will play at 7 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Davenport Field, with capacity crowds anticipated for each game.
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