No. 12 Virginia Breaks Single-Season Home Run Record in 16-7 Victory Over No. 10 Louisville

With the best way the Virginia bats have been this season, it was solely a matter of time. 

After managing simply 4 hits of their series-opening loss to the Cardinals, the Cavaliers opened the flood gates for 17 hits and 4 dwelling runs, breaking the UVA program document for single-season dwelling runs, as No. 12 Virginia (38-14, 17-12 ACC) evened the sequence with a 16-7 victory over No. 10 Louisville (37-17-1, 17-11-1 ACC) on Friday at Jim Patterson Stadium. 

UVA led wire-to-wire and the offensive onslaught began within the high of the primary inning. The Cavaliers drew back-to-back walks to start out the sport after which Alex Tappen singled to attain Griff O’Ferrall. Casey Saucke delivered a two-out single to attain Justin Rubin, however Tappen was thrown out on the plate to finish the inning. 

Within the high of the third, UVA put two runners on base with walks once more after which Devin Ortiz hammered a ball 456 ft to left subject for a three-run bomb, giving Virginia 68 dwelling runs for the season, a brand new program document. 

Later within the inning, Chris Newell and Griff O’Ferrall hit back-to-back RBI singles to stretch the Virginia result in 7-0. Nate Savino dealt three scoreless innings to start out the sport earlier than giving up three runs within the backside of the fourth, however solely one of many runs was earned. Savino ended up going 5 innings, placing out three batters and incomes his fifth win of the season. 

UVA responded to Louisville’s three-run inning with a six-run outpouring within the high of the fifth. Casey Saucke and Ethan Anderson hit back-to-back solo pictures to left middle to start out the inning. 

Griff O’Ferrall reached base on a fielder’s alternative, stole second, and got here round to attain on a single by Alex Tappen. Then, UVA’s dwelling run king Jake Gelof joined the social gathering as he got here as much as bat with runners on the corners and drove a three-run dwelling run over the wall in middle subject for his nineteenth homer of the season. 

Gelof now has 74 RBI for the season, second-most in UVA historical past behind Pavin Smith, who had 77 RBI in 2017. 

Louisville put up two runs within the backside of the seventh on back-to-back solo homers off of Paul Kosanovich. Virginia answered with a run within the eighth as Kyle Teel doubled and got here round to attain on a double by Ethan Anderson. 

UVA added two extra runs within the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Teel and an RBI double from Casey Saucke. The Cardinals scored two within the backside of the ninth, however Dylan Bowers completed them off to shut out the 16-7 victory. 

Virginia and Louisville will meet within the rubber match of the sequence to conclude the common season on Saturday at midday. 

See extra Virginia baseball information and content material: Virginia Baseball on Sports activities Illustrated

See extra Virginia sports activities information and content material: Virginia Cavaliers on Sports activities Illustrated

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