Cavaliers Take Down Clemson 8-1 in ACC Tournament Wednesday

May 25, 2005

Jacksonville, FL –

Virginia snapped Clemson’s nine-game winning streak with an 8-1 win on Wednesday in the ACC Tournament at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Virginia broke open a close game with five runs in the eighth inning. It was the Tigers’ first loss since May 8, when they fell at Virginia Tech 11-7. Clemson dropped to 37-20, while the #7-seed Cavaliers won their seventh game in a row to improve to 39-17. It was also Virginia’s fifth win in 15 tries against the Tigers in ACC Tournament play.

Jeff Kamrath (9-4), who beat the Tigers earlier this year, did the same by pitching 6.1 innings, allowing one run on eight hits. He also struck out six and walked just one. Sean Doolittle and Josh Myers pitched the final 2.2 innings without allowing a run to close out the game. Virginia pitchers combined to hold Clemson to 3-for-16 with runners on base. Richmond, VA native Stephen Faris (6-4) suffered the loss despite an effective outing. He allowed three runs (two earned), eight hits, and no walks with four strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched.

Virginia took the game’s first lead in the third inning. Kyle Werman reached on a fielding error by shortstop Stan Widmann and advanced to second on Tim Henry’s groundout to second. Matt Street followed with a single to right, scoring Werman and to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead.

Clemson responded with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Adrian Casanova led off with a double down the right-field line. Two batters later, Brad Chalk singled to left, advancing Casanova to third. Chalk had singled in the first inning, which extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Then Taylor Harbin hit a line-drive single to left, bringing home Casanova. The hit also extended Harbin’s hitting streak to 10 games.

Virginia took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. Ryan Zimmerman reached on a hit-by-pitch and went to third on Doolittle’s single to center. The hit extended Doolittle’s hitting streak to 15 games. After Brandon Guyer struck out for out #1, Scott Headd hit a slow roller to Widmann at shortstop. His only play was at second for the force out, as Zimmerman scored on the play.

The Cavaliers added five runs in the eighth inning, giving them an insurmountable six-run lead. Guyer reached with one out on a hit-by-pitch, stole second, then went to third on a wild pitch. After Headd walked, Tom Hagan lined a ground-rule double just inside the right-field line, scoring Guyer. Mike Campagna then singled up the middle past a drawn-in infield to score Headd, and Campagna went to second on the throw. Werman again singled past a drawn-in infield, but this time it scored two runs. Two batters later, Street blooped a two-out single to right-center, plating Werman.

Virginia added a run to its lead in the ninth inning thanks to some more sloppy fielding. With one out, Guyer was hit by a pitch and Headd walked. Hagan then hit a ground ball to first-baseman Andy D’Alessio. The ball rolled under his glove and between his legs, allowing Guyer to score and Headd to move to third. It was Clemson’s third error of the game.

Hagan was one of eight Cavaliers with a hit, as he had a game-high three in five at-bats. Street and Werman added two RBIs a piece, while Werman reached base in all four of his plate appearances. Eight of the nine Tiger starters had at least one hit, as Chalk and Widmann led the Tigers with two hits apiece.

Clemson will play #3-seed Miami (FL) on Thursday at 10:00 AM in an elimination game. The Tigers will be designated the home team and occupy the third-base dugout.