UVA Baseball Trounces Rival Hokies 18-1 in Series Opener

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The first run of Friday’s game against rival Virginia Tech was not what Virginia baseball fans wanted to see. In fact, with the importance of the game, it was a little bit frightening. But the Wahoos were able to fend off left fielder Brendan Rivoli‘s fourth-inning error — which led to a 1-0 Hokie lead — and come back with an onslaught of offense that had the scorekeeper’s head spinning.

Virginia scored seven runs in the top of the fifth — highlighted by home runs by Nic Kent (solo) and Kyle Teel (three-run) — en route to an 18-1 victory in front of a rowdy crowd in Blacksburg and national TV audience.

Starter Andrew Abbott turned in another gem for the Hoos, going seven innings without an earned run. He struck out eight batters, helping Virginia to their fourth win in their last five games. Virginia has also won three consecutive Friday night ACC games.

Virginia went on to add five more runs in the seventh and eighth innings, plus another in the top of the ninth on an Alex Tappen RBI double. Teel, who had an RBI double in the eighth, finished with four RBIs. Freshman Zack Gelof was ripping all night from the eight-hole and wound up with a three-hit night.

The next two games of the series will also be broadcast nationally on the ACC Network.

Virginia, listed as one of the”first four out” in Baseball America’s latest NCAA tournament projection, improved to 21-19 overall with the win and 12-16 in conference play.