No. 2 Cavaliers Defeat No. 14 Tigers 3-2 Friday

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. – Nathan Kirby tossed 6.0 effective innings with six strikeouts in No. 2 Virginia’s 3-2 victory over No. 14 Clemson at UVa Baseball Stadium on Friday night. The Cavaliers (29-5, 13-3 ACC) took a 1-0 lead in the series against the Tigers (20-13, 9-6 ACC).

Kirby (7-1), fresh off his no-hitter at Pittsburgh last weekend, earned the win by allowing just four hits, two runs and three walks with six strikeouts. Nick Howard pitched the ninth inning to record his 10th save of the year. Tiger starter Matthew Crownover (6-3) suffered the loss despite allowing just five hits and two earned runs in 7.0 innings pitched.

The Cavaliers scored two runs in the second inning, one of which came thanks to a costly Tiger error, then two-out, run-scoring singles by Tyler Krieger and Steven Duggar tied the score in the third inning. But Nate Irving’s two-out double in the fourth inning plated Howard for the go-ahead run.

The series continues Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

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