No. 2 Cavaliers Survive East Carolina Rally, Win 14-11
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/21/2010
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The No. 2 Virginia baseball team held off a late East
Carolina rally in posting a 14-11 victory over the No. 11 Pirates Sunday
afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville, N.C. UVa picked up a 2-1
series win.
The wild contest featured 30 hits and 37 players, including 13 pitchers, while
lasting four hours and 11 minutes. Every Virginia starter recorded at least one
hit, with seven posting at least two. Keith Werman (So., Vienna, Va.) and Dan
Grovatt (Jr., Tabernacle, N.J.) each had three hits for the Cavaliers, who
finished with 19 hits. Phil Gosselin (Jr., West Chester, Pa.) homered and scored
three times for the Cavaliers. UVa had plenty of opportunities to tack on more
runs, but left 17 runners on base.
Virginia (2-1) had a nine-run lead, 13-4, after a four-run sixth inning, but the
Pirates roared back with seven runs in the eighth inning to make things very
interesting and bring what was left of the crowd of 4,774 to its feet. The
Pirates (1-2) brought the potential tying run to the plate in the eighth, but
Kevin Arico (Jr., Flemington, N.J.) came on to retire Devin Harris and went 1.1
innings to notch his first save of 2010.
Neal Davis (Sr., Baltimore, Md.) earned the win for Virginia with 2.1 innings of
scoreless relief. UVa starting pitcher Cody Winiarski (Jr., Franksville, Wis.)
worked 3.2 innings in his Cavalier debut, allowing four earned runs, three hits
and four walks while striking out two.
ECU starter Brad Mincey (0-1) took the loss and failed to get out of the second
inning, going 1.2 innings and allowing six earned runs, seven hits and a walk
while striking out one.
After falling behind early in the first two games, Virginia jumped out first
Sunday. Phil Gosselin (Jr., West Chester, Pa.) singled on the game's first
pitch, then moved up on a Danny Hultzen (So., Bethesda, Md.) groundout. Grovatt
followed with a single up the middle to score Gosselin and give UVa the 1-0
edge.
East Carolina came right back in its half of the first when Dustin Harrington
ripped a one-out solo home run into the ‘Jungle' beyond the left-center field
wall.
The Cavaliers knocked Mincey from the game while sending 10 batters to the plate
in a six-run second inning. John Hicks (So., Sandy Hook, Va.) doubled to lead
off the inning and scored one out later on a single to left by Werman. Gosselin
then cranked a two-run home run to left-center to give UVa a 4-1 lead. With two
out, Grovatt ripped a single to right and he scored when Steven Proscia (So.,
Suffern, N.Y.) doubled into the left-field corner. Mincey was yanked in favor of
Tyler Joyner, who then walked Jarrett Parker (Jr., Stafford, Va.). Tyler Cannon
(Sr., Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) capped the scoring with a two-run double as UVa took
a 7-1 lead.
ECU shaved a run off the lead in the second inning on a Corey Thompson sacrifice
fly, but UVa countered with a pair of scores in the fourth inning to push the
lead to seven, 9-2. Parker doubled to right-center to lead off and moved to
third on a single to right by Cannon. Sthil Sowers then came on in relief for
ECU and surrendered back-to-back RBI singles by Hicks and Franco Valdes (Sr.,
Miami, Fla.).
East Carolina scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking
advantage of Winiarski's control problems with two out. After Winiarski walked
the bases loaded, Trent Whitehead singled up the middle on an 0-2 pitch against
reliever Davis to score a pair of runs and bring ECU to within 9-4.
Virginia added on in the sixth inning, scoring four times against Jake Harris.
With one out Werman singled up the middle. Gosselin then walked and the two
combined for a double steal. Hultzen walked to load the bases and Grovatt was
then hit by a pitch to force in a run. Shawn Armstrong came on to pitch and got
Proscia to fly deep to center for a sacrifice fly, but Parker lined a triple
into the right-field corner to score Hultzen and Grovatt and increase the lead
to 13-4.
The Pirates stormed back in the eighth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate
while scoring seven runs. Kyle Roller led off with a double off Grovatt, who was
making his first college pitching appearance. Corey Hunt (R-Jr.,
Charlottesville, Va.), also in his first pitching outing, came on and gave up a
run-scoring single to Devin Harris and a single to Austin Homan before getting
Zach Wright to ground out and Chris Gosik to hit a sacrifice fly. John Wooten
followed with a two-run home run to right to bring ECU within five, 13-8.
Philip Clark then drew a walk, and Whitehead followed with a walk against UVa's
new pitcher, Tyler Wilson (Jr., Midlothian, Va.). Harrington followed with a
two-run double and Roller added a run-scoring single to cut the lead to 13-11.
Arico then came on and got Harris to ground out to Werman at second for the
final out.
The Cavaliers added an insurance run in the ninth on a triple by Chris Taylor
(Fr., Virginia Beach, Va.), scoring Hicks, who walked to lead off the inning.
The hit was the first of Taylor's career.
Homan led off the ninth with a single, but Arico rebounded to strike out Wright
on a 3-2 pitch, strike out Bryan Bass looking and induce Wooten to ground into a
fielder's choice to end the game.
Virginia returns home this week, playing George Washington Wednesday before
taking on Rhode Island in a three-game series Friday through Sunday.
Cavaliers survive Pirates’ late rally
From staff reports
Published: February 21, 2010
Updated: February 21, 2010
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In Greenville, N.C., Virginia’s baseball team made things far more interesting
than necessary Sunday, but managed to stave off a late charge from 11th-ranked
East Carolina to win 14-11 at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
With the victory and a 19-hit attack, the second-ranked Cavaliers took the
season-opening series and improved to 2-1 overall.
“This was a great series win to open up the season,” Virginia coach Brian
O’Connor said. “It was a challenging environment against another really good
club, and anytime you can take two out of three in that situation on the road
you feel good about it.”
Given the fact that No. 1 Texas went 1-2 at home over the weekend against New
Mexico, Virginia will be ranked No. 1 in the latest Baseball America poll when
released this week, marking the first time in program history the Cavaliers have
been ranked that high.
UVa, which scored seven runs in the first two games of the series, set the tone
early as it raced out to a 13-4 lead in the wild affair thanks in part to a
six-run frame in the second inning.
The inning was highlighted by a two-run homer by left fielder Phil Gosselin off
ECU starting pitcher Brad Mincey (0-1).
“He left a breaking ball up and I was able to put a good swing on it,” Gosselin
said.
The Pirates answered to an extent, scoring seven runs off six hits in a lengthy
eighth inning that trimmed their deficit to 13-11.
“It seemed like it took a couple hours. It took forever to end,” said Gosselin,
who finished 2 for 5 with three runs scored. “We were just hoping that we could
get the next guy out, but they were doing a good job at the plate.
“It really felt like it took two hours.”
It was a frame that saw three Virginia pitchers work — including a premature
visit by closer Kevin Arico — as the Pirates sent 11 batters to the plate.
“They did a job in that inning and we didn’t. In that ballpark, one that is a
hitter-friendly ballpark, no lead is ever too safe,” O’Connor said. “They did a
nice job of not quitting and they continued to battle and strung a bunch of hits
together.
“Fortunately, we were able to hold on.”
Virginia added an
insurance run in the top-half of the ninth on an RBI triple from rookie Chris
Taylor.
“We knew how good their offense was so we knew that we had to keep scoring to
keep that separation from them.”
Virginia had nine players register a hit in the contest, including three apiece
from sophomore second baseman Keith Werman and junior Dan Grovatt
The Cavaliers return to action Wednesday against George Washington at home. Due
to poor field conditions, however, it is expected that Virginia will officially
announce today that the contest will be moved to Christopher Newport University
in Newport News.
Virginia takes opening series
Andrew Seidman, Cavalier Daily Sports Editor
Baseball / Sports
February 22, 2010 0
The No. 2 Virginia baseball team began its highly anticipated 2010 season by
winning its opening series against No. 11 East Carolina, two games to one.
After splitting the first two contests, the Cavaliers blew open a 1-1 ball game
with a six-run second inning, highlighted by junior Phil Gosselin’s two-run home
run and sophomore Steven Proscia’s two-out RBI double. Virginia put together
another big inning in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded, junior
outfielder Dan Grovatt was hit by a pitch to send sophomore second baseman Keith
Werman, who hit 3-for-4 on the day, to home plate. The Pirates brought in a new
pitcher, Shawn Armstrong, to face junior outfielder Jarrett Parker with the
bases still loaded and zero outs. The preseason All-American was unshaken by the
change, roping a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases to give
Virginia a 13-4 lead.
That inning proved crucial, as the Cavalier bullpen stumbled during the eighth
inning, allowing seven runs on three singles, two walks and a two-run home run
off the bat of John Wooten. Junior Corey Hunt was torched for four earned runs
in the inning, and junior Tyler Wilson was equally ineffective, walking the
first batter he faced and allowing a double and a single. Coach Brian O’Connor
was forced to bring in junior closer Kevin Arico, who recorded the final out of
the inning. After the Cavaliers tacked on another run in the top of the ninth,
Arico struck out two batters in the bottom half of the inning to seal the
victory for Virginia.
The rubber match provided some drama to a series that had been mostly dominated
by the winning squad of the previous two games. Preseason All-American Danny
Hultzen got off to a shaky start in Friday’s game, allowing two earned runs in
the first inning. He shut out the Pirates for the next five innings, however,
surrendering just two hits and one walk during that span. After Virginia tied
the game in the fourth off Proscia’s sacrifice fly and a Parker double, the
Cavaliers seized the lead in the sixth when Proscia knocked a two-run homer over
the left field wall. The sophomore finished the weekend with four hits and six
RBIs.
Wilson continued Hultzen’s dominance for the final three innings, shutting out
the Pirates while allowing only two hits and two walks to seal the 6-2 victory.
During Saturday’s game, East Carolina pitcher Kevin Brandt stifled the Cavalier
lineup, allowing only one earned run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings of work en
route to a 6-1 victory for the Pirates. Most impressively, he did not give up a
hit to the middle of Virginia’s order — Grovatt, Proscia and Parker each went
0-4 on the day. Virginia starter junior Robert Morey, meanwhile, was attributed
his first career loss with 4 1/3 innings pitched and three earned runs.
Virginia resumes play Wednesday against George Washington for its first home
game of the season.
Slumping Sherrill aims to get back on track
By Whitey Reid
Published: February 21, 2010
Updated: February 21, 2010
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Virginia’s Will Sherrill looked despondent as he sat in a chair by his locker
following UVa’s 72-49 loss at Clemson on Saturday. The junior walk-on has seemed
to take the team’s five-game losing streak personally.
After making solid contributions during Virginia’s shocking 5-3 start in the
ACC, Sherrill has been ineffective the past few games.
Against the Tigers, Sherrill played just nine minutes — his shortest outing in
over a month. The 6-foot-9 New York City native missed both of shots — one of
them badly — and committed two turnovers that led to easy points.
“I’m definitely struggling now,” Sherrill said. “I’m trying to get into the gym
as much as possible to get extra shots up.
“I just have to keep shooting because I know that I can shoot. Eventually, I’ll
shoot my way out of it. The last few games I’ve kind of let that affect the rest
of my play, and I can’t do that — that’s hurting the team.”
Virginia coach Tony Bennett has stuck with Sherrill through his slump. However,
if Sherrill doesn’t turn things around soon, Bennett may give Sherrill’s minutes
to freshman Tristan Spurlock, who, if the team is losing anyway, deserves a
legitimate shot to show what he can do as the program looks toward the future.
After a “Where the heck did that come?” performance in Cancun where he scored a
career-high 18 points against Cleveland State, Sherrill has averaged 2.9 points.
For the season, he’s shooting 37 percent, including 30 percent from 3-point
range.
“I think he has confidence in me to shoot,” said Sherrill, referring to Bennett,
“but it’s some of the other plays — a couple of turnovers — I can’t do that.
That’s hurting the team. I need to play better in those respects.”
Sherrill, a cerebral player with a high basketball IQ, is most effective against
teams that aren’t big or ultra athletic. That was definitely not Clemson.
“He was a little outmatched physically with those interior guys,” said Bennett,
whose team will try and snap its skid on Tuesday night at Miami. “He usually
gives us some screening and toughness and some of those intangible things, but
he was a step slower today.”
Virginia seeks to avenge loss
By Jay Jenkins
Published: February 21, 2010
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The Virginia women’s basketball team was far from perfect the first time around
against Florida State.
There were missed layups and terrible attempts at free throws. There was even a
late-game collapse that left the score quite misleading.
Tonight, the Cavaliers get another shot at the 10th-ranked Seminoles. This time,
however, the game will be played in John Paul Jones Arena (7 p.m.).
It couldn’t come at a more stirring time for Virginia.
Sitting in sole possession of third place in the ACC standings at 8-3 in the
league, Virginia has back-to-back dates with FSU (9-2 ACC) and Duke (10-1), the
only teams that it trails. The Cavaliers also play at Duke on Friday at 8:30
p.m.
“It is real exciting. We are excited about it,” Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said.
“I think that we are just glad to be in the position that we are in. We fought
hard to be here. It’s not like we didn’t run over a whole lot of people to get
here.
“We had to play hard every game. Every possession mattered and every possession
was important. I think this team really understands that.”
Virginia has been magical of late — the Cavaliers have won eight of their past
nine in league games, including a double overtime win over North Carolina last
week.
It would lead one to think that Virginia’s players, including the younger
additions, have reached the highest level as the postseason
approaches.
“I don’t know about this peak thing. I think we are still getting better, and
that’s what we strive for,“ Ryan said. “We want to get better everyday.
“I think that peaking thing is a little overrated. You might do that in swimming
or something, but I just don’t see that in basketball.
“I think we are getting better as a team and I think that’s what we have to do.”
Part of what led to a loss at FSU in January came on the defensive end of the
floor. That has changed in recent victories as Virginia now ranks fourth in
scoring defense and field goal percentage defense in league games.
“We have to hang our hat on the defensive end,” Ryan said. “You can see that we
are starting to rebound the ball better and if [Virginia men’s basketball coach]
Tony Bennett was to watch us play, he would be happy with our rebounding.”
Cavaliers Fall to No. 19 LSU in Tiger Classic Championship
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 02/21/2010
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Virginia softball team (2-5) fell to 19th-ranked LSU 8-0
in six innings Sunday in the championship game of the Tiger Classic in Baton
Rouge, La.
The Cavaliers went 1-4 in the tournament, highlighted by a 2-1 upset over No. 4
Michigan Saturday afternoon. Senior Sarah Tacke, who hit the game-winner to beat
the Wolverines, was named to the all-tournament team.
LSU (7-4) picked up two runs in both the first and second innings to jump out to
a 4-0 lead. The Tigers then added three more in the fourth before tallying a
walk-off home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Virginia starter Melanie Mitchell tossed the first two innings, while Nicole
Koren came on to throw the final 3 2/3.
The Cavaliers were outhit 10-2 in the contest, with Taylor Williams and Tacke
recording singles for the Orange and Blue.
Squad loses first game of season against Loyola despite early
lead
Kalkstein breaks school record in draw controls during disappointing 15-11 loss
Stacy Kruczkowski, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Sports
February 22, 2010 0
The young Virginia women’s lacrosse team experienced its first setback of the
season, dropping its season opener against Loyola (Md.)15-11 at University Hall
Turf Field Saturday.
The Cavaliers got off to a fast start in the contest, scoring their first goal
of the season within the first minute to go up 1-0 against the Greyhounds.
During the next 12 minutes, Virginia outplayed its opponents offensively,
netting four goals compared to Loyola’s two. Senior midfielder Caity Whiteley
converted on three shots during this stretch, including a strong drive from
behind the net, to put the Cavaliers up 5-2 by the 17:01 mark.
This was the last time Virginia found the back of the net in the first half,
however. Before the end of the first period, the Greyhounds scored five
unanswered goals to take a 7-5 lead at halftime, despite the Cavaliers 9-4 draw
control advantage.
Loyola’s momentum continued after the intermission. Senior midfielder Emily
Gibson registered her second goal of the game six minutes into the second
period, and junior midfielder Grace Gavin earned a hat-trick during the 19th
minute. Freshman attacker Charlie Finnigan seemed to reignite the Cavaliers with
a goal off the right side of the cage just more than a minute later, ending the
nearly 30-minute scoreless stretch for Virginia’s offense.
The Cavaliers continued to struggle to put points on the board throughout the
rest of the second period, however, against the talented left-handed Loyola
goalkeeper, sophomore Kerry Stoothoff, who ended the game with a career-high 15
saves. Whiteley, sophomore midfielder Josie Owen and sophomore midfielder Julie
Gardner each added a goal for the Cavaliers during the last two minutes of the
game, but it was too late for Virginia to pull through.
Despite the team loss, senior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein earned a personal
victory by becoming the all-time school leader in career draw controls. The team
captain captured the record by posting a career-high nine draw controls in the
loss, as well as a goal and two assists on the day.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Kalkstein said. “It’s definitely something that I work
on, but it’s kind of hard to take the good with the bad. I’d prefer to have that
win over that record. It’s exciting, but obviously there’s a bigger picture out
there.”
With Saturday’s loss, the Cavaliers begin their season 0-1 for the first team in
seven seasons and end their 10-game winning streak for the month of February.
Virginia coach Julie Myers stressed, though, that this was only the beginning of
the season for the relatively young squad that is still trying to cope with the
departure of several star players who graduated last spring.
“It didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, but I think we have some things to
draw on,” Myers said. “We have lots of kids in the starting lineup and on the
field for the first time since getting to college, so I think this is a
beginning step for us, and we’ll get better every outing. Right now, we need a
little bit more practice and a little bit more time and lots of games to keep
trying and test ourselves.”
One such newcomer is freshman goalkeeper Kim Kolarik, who notched seven saves
during her first career start for the Cavaliers. The rookie goalkeeper looks to
see significant time this season between the posts.
“It was really exciting,” Kolarik said of her first start on Saturday. “[I was]
a little nervous until I got into goal, and then it was just another game. I
thought it was a good stepping stone for us. We now know what we need to work on
for the next game and what we did well. Overall, we did well for the first game,
but we still have a lot to work on.”
The Cavaliers will look for their first win of the season Wednesday against
in-state rival Richmond at home at 7 p.m.
Cavs drop final bout before postseason
Lead changes four times in closely-fought contest; Terrapins slowly pull away in
final four matches
Willy Hrachovina, Cavalier Daily Sports Editor
Featured / Sports / Wrestling
February 22, 2010 0
The victory for Maryland marked the team’s fourth straight win
against the Cavaliers and pushed the Terps to a perfect 4-0 in ACC play this
season and 19-4 overall. The Terrapins enter the ACC Championships March 6 in a
tie for first in the conference, while the Cavaliers are currently in third.
Courtesy Thomas Wilson | UVA Media Relations.
The victory for Maryland marked the team’s fourth straight win against the
Cavaliers and pushed the Terps to a perfect 4-0 in ACC play this season and 19-4
overall. The Terrapins enter the ACC Championships March 6 in a tie for first in
the conference, while the Cavaliers are currently in third. Courtesy Thomas
Wilson | UVA Media Relations.
The No. 23 Virginia wrestling team fell to No. 10 Maryland 22-11 Saturday during
Senior Night.
Despite Maryland’s wide margin of victory, the match remained close for much of
the afternoon. The Terrapins (19-4, 4-0 ACC) struck first with No. 14 Josh Asper
defeating 165-pound senior Beau Fisher 12-5. Virginia (16-6, 3-2 ACC) quickly
took the lead, however, as No. 3 junior Chris Henrich racked up 15 points in
only a period and a half to earn a technical fall at 174 pounds, giving the
Cavaliers a 5-3 lead. No. 20 Freshman Mike Salopek followed in the 184-pound
class with a 2-0 decision to put Virginia ahead 8-3.
From this point, the lead swapped three times before Maryland ultimately moved
ahead for good late in the meet. No. 18 Brent Jones fell by major decision to
No. 3 Hudson Taylor at 197 pounds. Jones came close to pinning Taylor early in
the first period and had an early lead in the bout that was a rematch of the
2009 ACC Championship.
In the heavyweight class, Maryland’s Patrick Gilmore edged junior Jack
Danilkowicz in overtime and two tiebreaker periods, to return the lead to
Maryland.
Virginia’s final victory of the afternoon came from senior Ross Gitomer in the
125-pound class, which briefly gave Virginia an 11-10 lead. From there, though,
Maryland topped Virginia by four points or less until the Terrapins’ Kyle John
defeated Danny Gonsor 9-3 to seal the overall win.
“This match is always a good one,” Virginia coach Steve Garland said. “For the
past three years, Maryland has been ranked very high — they have done such a
good job — and it’s always a really good battle. It’s tough to give it all you
got and lose.”
Though Virginia has not won a regular season match against Maryland since 2006,
there were plenty of opportunities Saturday for the Cavaliers to bring down the
reigning ACC champions.
“We just made some silly mistakes at the worst times,” Garland said. “We had
three matches where if we would have finished a single leg takedown, we probably
would have won the match. They outhustled us, and we lost the dual meet because
of it.”
Junior Chris Henrich agreed that the team did not take full advantage of its
opportunities during the match.
“We had a lot of momentum going into that match, and unfortunately we were not
able to capitalize from it, which is something we are generally really good at,”
Henrich said. “We just have to keep that up and feed from each others’ wins.”
Virginia will have the next week off before heading to Raleigh for the ACC
Championships March 6.