For the third time in the last four games and 12th time in 21 total games this season, the Cavalier bats surpassed double digit runs in yet another offensive explosion. Behind 17 hits, including multi-hit efforts from five different players, No. 14 Virginia (17-4) wrapped up its five-game homestand with a 15-6 victory over Georgetown (13-7) on Tuesday evening at Disharoon Park.
For the relatively easy blowout that this game ended up being for the Cavaliers, the first half of the game was an exciting back-and-forth affair. After a scoreless first inning, UVA got on the board first in the bottom of the second as Harrison Didawick drew a leadoff walk, eventually found his way to third and then scored as Ethan Anderson got caught stealing but managed to prolong the rundown long enough to allow Didawick to score first.
Georgetown answered with three runs in the third, with Matt Augustin walking in a run and giving up a two-run double. The Cavaliers fired back with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the third, as Bobby Whalen scored two runs with a triple down the left field line and Henry Ford brought another run in, albeit on a double-play.
The Hoyas and Cavaliers continued to exchange the lead back and forth, with Georgetown sending two runs across the plate in the top of the fourth and UVA again responding with two runs on a solo homer from Jacob Ference and then back-to-back doubles from Ethan Anderson and Eric Becker.
The Hoyas tied things up at 6-6 in the top of the fifth on an RBI triple. But something changed at the exact midway point of the game, as the Cavaliers proceeded to dominate in all phases from there on out.
Offensively, Virginia blitzed Georgetown with six hits in the bottom of the fifth, starting with three-straight doubles from Casey Saucke, Henry Ford, and Harrison Didawick and then an RBI single from Godbout. Eric Becker scored Godbout with a single and then Ethan Anderson scored on a Griff O'Ferrall RBI groundout, capping a five-run inning that allowed UVA to open up an 11-6 lead.
Blake Barker tossed a much-needed zero on the board in the top of the sixth and then the UVA bats continued the onslaught with a two-run double from Godbout, who eventually scored on a wild pitch. Virginia tacked on one more in the bottom of the eighth on a solo homer by Casey Saucke to make it 15-6.
Matthew Buchanan threw scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth and then freshman lefty Patric Menk finished things off with a scoreless ninth to secure Virginia's 15-6 victory.
Blake Barker was credited with the win and he was one of three Cavaliers to record scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Casey Saucke went 3 for 4 with three runs scored, Henry Godbout was 2 for 4 with three RBI, and Eric Becker went 3 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored.
Up next, Virginia heads out on the road for a three-game series at Pittsburgh this weekend. Games 1 and 2 will start at 3pm on Friday and Saturday and the series finale is set for 1pm on Sunday, with all games being streamed on ACC Network Extra.
More must-reads: