Balk lifts Cavs over Herd

By Jay Jenkins

| 978-7250

Of all days, it appeared that St. Patrick’s Day would provide Virginia baseball coach Brian O’Connor with his first loss in nine months.

Trailing by three runs with just six outs left, the Cavaliers mounted their most impressive rally this season, keeping their perfect record intact.

Virginia, ranked No. 14 in the country, scored four two-out runs in the seventh inning, including the game-winner, as it dispatched Marshall 5-4 at Davenport Field.

“I think our guys showed a lot of character tonight,” O’Connor said, “and the players showed us that they are able to come from behind and win a game.”

With timely hitting in the seventh and one of the rarest calls in baseball, Virginia (16-0) kept the nation’s longest winning streak alive with the win.

Marshall (7-9) appeared in line to snap the Cavaliers’ winning streak early, scoring three runs in the fourth off three hits and a costly error by Virginia shortstop Tyler Cannon.

It certainly helped that the Thundering Herd received a stellar start from left-hander Greg Williams, who baffled Virginia’s hitters well into the seventh frame. In fact, Williams allowed just three hits over the first six innings.

“That kid they ran out, a big left-handed pitcher, he filled the zone up and was throwing 88 to 90 miles per hour,” O’Connor said. “He is good and he attacked the lead-off hitters every inning early.”

During the comeback in seventh as UVa trailed 4-2, Cannon delivered the contest’s biggest hit with a two-run, two-out single to right field.

“That is what a veteran does,” O’Connor said. “He has been in that situation a lot in his career and I know he was disappointed that he made a big error earlier in the game, but he came up and got a clutch hit for his team.

“We needed somebody that was willing to pick another teammate up. He did that tonight and it was a big hit for us.”

After Cannon stole second, Virginia scored the game-winning run on a balk called on Marshall reliever Ian Kadish.

Virginia reliever Kevin Arico sealed the win over the final two frames, scattering two hits and a walk. The right-hander was also saved from a basket-catch at the warning track from center fielder Jarrett Parker with one out and a runner at first in the ninth.

“Arico went out there and threw a good eighth inning and I decided to stay with him,” said O’Connor, who had pitched closer Matt Packer earlier in the game by design. “It was big for Kevin’s confidence.

“I was happy to see him throw the ball the way he did to close the game out.”

Packer, who pitched three innings, earned his first win of the season and Arico recorded his first career save with his two-inning performance.

“A lot of guys kept saying that we needed this and I am just glad that we could pull it out in the end,” Arico said. “It is not something to laugh about, but it was a good reality check. It is going to put us in good shape for this weekend [against Miami].

“For the games coming up, we are exactly where we want to be offensively, defensively and pitching. We are exactly where we need to be.”

Virginia will play two games today — the Cavaliers will host Canisius at 4 p.m. and face Wagner 45 minutes after the opener has concluded.