Four Virginia pitchers combined to scatter four hits as the fifth-ranked Cavaliers defeated Miami, 8-1, Saturday afternoon in front of 4,258 spectators at Davenport Field. In winning its ninth straight game, Virginia (25-2, 9-2 ACC) clinched its fourth ACC series win in as many weeks.The teams will compete the series at noon Sunday. The game originally was slated to start at 1 p.m., but the start time was changed because of the potential for inclement weather.
Virginia starting pitcher Scott Silverstein (R-Sr., Olney, Md.) worked 6 2/3 innings and tied a career high with nine strikeouts in a strong performance. Silverstein (5-0) earned the win while allowing just an earned run, three hits and two walks. He retired 15 of 16 batters in a stretch from the second to seventh innings; the lone batter to reach was on a wild pitch on a swinging third strike.
After Whit Mayberry (R-Jr., Alexandria, Va.) got out of a two-on, two-out jam in the seventh inning, Kyle Crockett (Jr., Poquoson, Va.) picked up the final six outs to earn his second save.
Miami starter Bryan Radziewski (3-1), the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week, took the loss after giving up four runs (two earned), six hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out five. UM reliever AJ Salcines gave up four runs in the eighth inning.
Virginia finished with 11 hits, including five during a four-run eighth inning which opened up the game. Reed Gragnani (Sr., Richmond, Va.), Nate Irving (So., Yonkers, N.Y.) and Kenny Towns (So., Burke, Va.) each recorded a pair of hits, while Gragnani drove in three runs and now has seven RBI in the series.
Miami grabbed the early lead with a second-inning run. After Michael Broad drew a leadoff walk, he advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Ricky Eusebio and scored on a Garrett Kennedy single.
Virginia quickly responded with three runs in its half of the second. Towns led off with a single and Mike Papi (So., Tunkhannock, Pa.) drew a four-pitch walk to start the inning. Nick Howard (So., Olney, Md.) hit a tailor-made double-play ball, but shortstop Alex Hernandez booted it, allowing Towns to score and Papi to advance to third. Gragnani singled to plate Papi and Irving then singled to load the bases. Radziewski retired the next two batters, but Joe McCarthy (Fr., Scranton, Pa.) singled through the left side of the infield to plate a run and make it 3-1.
Radziewski did not allow another hit until the sixth inning. He hit Gragnani with a pitch with two outs and Irving then cranked a double off the left-center field wall to score the Cavaliers’ fourth run.
For the second straight day, Virginia blew the game open against the Miami bullpen in the eighth inning. The first four Cavaliers picked up hits, and each came around to score. Towns, Papi and Howard hit consecutive singles to bring in the first run. Gragnani followed with a two-run double to center, and one out later Branden Cogswell (So., Ballston Lake, N.Y.) singled to left to make it 8-1.
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