The Cavaliers picked up their first series sweep of the season over the weekend against the Demon Deacons, winning all three games with exciting fireworks in Charlottesville.
On Friday, Virginia blew out Wake Forest 17-0, but the story of the game was the pitching. Behind senior starter Andrew Abbott -- who was masterful -- the 'Hoos threw the program's seventh no-hitter and the second combined no-no.
Abbott worked 7⅓ innings, tossed 105 pitches, and struck out 16, which is tied for third most in a game in school history and the most by an ACC pitcher this year. Abbott has three games this season with at least 14 strikeouts and is now third on UVa's strikeout list with 280, behind Seth Greisinger, who collected 289, and Danny Hutzen, who finished with an incredible 395.
The lefty struck out the first eight batters swinging. He issued only two walks. Jake Berry got the final two outs of the eighth inning, and Griff McGarry got through the ninth unscathed as well.
UVa's most recent no-hitter before Friday came Feb. 28, 2018, when six pitchers combined to no-hit William & Mary in an 11-inning 4-3 victory. The last pitcher to record a solo no-hitter was Nathan Kirby against Pittsburgh on April 14, 2014.
Abbott (6-5, 3.12 ERA) has been on fire recently and was awarded ACC pitcher of the week for his efforts after also garnering that honor for his performance against Virginia Tech on April 30.
Abbott received excellent run support in that 18-1 win over the Hokies, and he was similarly backed up by the offense versus the Demon Deacons. Zack Gelof (2 for 4), Max Cotier (2 for 5), Brendan Rivoli (2 for 4), and Chris Newell (2 for 4) each got two hits, with Gelof hitting a two-run homer, and Newell knocking in three runners. Rivoli had two RBIs.
UVa scored two runs in the second, three in the fourth, five in the fifth, and eight in the sixth.
On Saturday, Virginia won 6-5 when Jake Gelof (younger brother of Zack) hit a walk-off, bases-loaded single through the middle of the infield. It was part of a big night for Gelof, who tied the game at 2-2 in the second with a double to the left-center field wall. Two throwing errors later, Gelof slid across the plate for a de facto inside-the-park home run, making it 3-2.
Cotier went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Alex Tappen had an RBI as well. Blake Bales got the win on the mound, throwing 2⅔ innings of scoreless and hitless relief while striking out four. Zach Messinger also did not allow a run over 3⅔ innings of relief and struck out six. He allowed three hits. Mike Vasil got the start but allowed all five runs on five hits and four walks in just 2⅓ innings. He had one strikeout.
I guess one walk-off wasn't enough, because the 'Hoos went for an encore Sunday in a 5-4 victory.
Photo credit: The Cavaliers come streaking onto the field after Sunday's victory. (UVa Athletics)
Fittingly, the hero on senior day was a senior, Christian Hlinka, who doubled home Jake Gelof with two outs. Gelof had drawn a leadoff walk. Nic Kent went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Kyle Teel went 2 for 4 and scored two runs.
Closer Stephen Schoch got the victory with two innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit while striking out three. Nate Savino started and allowed two earned runs on seven hits over six innings while striking out six and walking two.
In the series, Jake Gelof went 5 for 11 with two doubles, a triple, four runs, and five RBIs. He also walked four times.
The series sweep didn't seriously add to Virginia's NCAA tournament resume -- it is more like the Cavaliers held serve. With the Demon Deacons having a bad season (17-26, 7-22 ACC), it was more about avoiding bad losses, and UVa was able to do that.
Virginia is now 25-21 overall and 16-17 in the conference. It is 7-3 in its past 10 games and has won three straight series. If the 'Hoos can get another sweep over Boston College (20-26, 9-21) on the road this weekend, that might be enough to put them in the NCAA field with really not having to worry about their ACC tournament result. Even a series win could do it. Anything less than that, and they might need to worry.
The series starts a day earlier than normal, Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Friday's first pitch is at 2 p.m., and Saturday's game starts at 11 a.m. All the contests will be available on ACC Network Extra through Watch ESPN.
Women's soccer: In the College Cup semifinals last Thursday, the Cavaliers fell in a heartbreaker to No. 1 seed Florida State in penalty kicks after two scoreless halves and two scoreless 10-minute overtimes.
UVa controlled the first half and got six shots off compared to just one for FSU. Rebecca Jarrett had a shot hit the crossbar, bounce to the ground, and, just barely, not go in. The 'Noles controlled more of the action in the second half but never really threatened to score. Once the match went to the shootout, it was all FSU, as the Seminoles made their first three kicks, while the 'Hoos missed their first three.
It was a tough way for the season to end for the Wahoos (14-4-3), but again, this is still a program that has a lot of momentum, has had a lot of success, and there's no reason to believe it won't at some point break through and win a national title, as long as Steve Swanson is the coach. The Cavaliers just have to keep knocking at the door.
Men's tennis: No. 5 seed Virginia fell to No. 12 seed USC, 4-2, in the Sweet 16 on Monday in Orlando. The 'Hoos lost the doubles point and four first sets in the singles round but battled to the end and took two of the singles matches, with Inaki Montes and Gianni Ross grabbing three-set victories.
But Stefan Dostanic's three-set win over Chris Rodesch, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, finished off the Cavaliers.
Virginia, despite winning the championship in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, has had quite the time dealing with USC in the NCAA tournament. The Trojans defeated the Cavaliers in the final in 2011 and 2012 and in the semifinal in 2014. And UVa did not defeat USC in the tournament in any of its championship runs, so unfortunately, that trend continued.
Virginia, which lost in the Elite Eight two seasons ago to Wake Forest, ends this season, its fourth under coach Andres Pedroso, at 23-3. Despite losing a round earlier than in 2019, the team finished with a better record. That year, the 'Hoos finished 24-5. I think as long as Virginia doesn't see USC in the tournament, the upward trajectory should continue for the program, which has built itself back up after a hiccup following the departure of longtime coach Brian Boland.
Men's lacrosse: No. 4 UVa defeated Bryant in the first round of the NCAA tournament, 13-11, on Sunday in Charlottesville.
The underdog Bulldogs led 10-9 going into the fourth quarter, but UVa sealed its trip to the second round with a 4-1 frame, scoring the period's first four goals.
Five players scored two goals each: Connor Shellenberger, Ian Laviano, Matt Moore, Payton Cormier, and Peter Garno.
Virginia (11-4) advances to Hempstead, N.Y., where it will face No. 5 seed Georgetown in the quarterfinals. The Hoyas (13-2) topped Syracuse, 18-8, in the first round. The Orange defeated the Cavaliers twice this season, so it looks like beating Georgetown will be a tough task for Virginia. The match is set for Saturday at noon and will be televised on ESPNU.
Women's tennis: Like the men, the women were unable to get past the Sweet 16, falling to Georgia in a hard-fought 4-1 loss in Orlando. The 'Hoos finish 2021 with a 16-7 mark.
Women's lacrosse: Virginia defeated Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament last Friday, 19-13, but then lost to Notre Dame on Sunday, 13-8. The Cavaliers' season ends with a 9-9 record.
Men's golf: With one round to go today at the NCAA regional in Kingston Spring, Tenn., the 'Hoos are on the outside looking in.
Virginia sits in eighth place out of 13 teams and must finish at least fifth to advance to the NCAA championships. UVa is five strokes behind Clemson and Charlotte, which are tied for fifth. Kent State is sixth, four shots ahead of the Cavaliers.
Rowing: No. 3 UVa won its 11th consecutive ACC championship Saturday at Lake Hartwell in Clemson. The 22-squad national regatta takes place May 28-30 in Sarasota, Fla. In 2019, Virginia placed 10th. The Cavaliers won NCAA championships in 2012 and 2010.
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