Cavaliers Complete the Sweep

The Cavalier baseball team was able to extend their unbeaten record to 7-0 after taking care of business against the Toledo Rockets this past weekend. Even though the offense has been wildly successful all year, the pitching was the reason the Hoos were so successful this weekend.

On Friday, the story was Brandon Waddell, as the 1st year pitcher struck out 15 in only his second career start as a Cavalier. The offense was able to put up 15 runs, but nobody could touch Waddell as the Cavaliers routed the Rockets 15-0.

Saturday wasn't quite as lopsided, but had similar results. Upper classmen Scott Silverstein and Whit Mayberry combined to shutout the Rockets again. They only struck out eight, but held Toledo to only five hits and two walks. The offense wasn't as dominant either as they were only able to score five runs on seven hits. Four of those five runs weren't scored until the 8th inning meaning the Cavaliers were winning by the skin of their teeth for nearly the entire game. Brandon Downes and Kenny Towns paced the offense with two hits a piece while Downes was the true offensive MVP with his three run Home Run in the 8th inning.

Sunday was the closest game of the weekend after Toledo was actually able to score runs. Nate Kirby took the victory for UVa after he relieved Nick Howard in the 5th inning and proceeded to throw 2.1 innings, only giving up three runs and striking out four. The real pitching stories were Austin Young and Josh Sborz. Both came in with Toledo threatening with runners in scoring position and both held the Rockets scoreless. If the Cavaliers are going to be successful the rest of the season they are going to have to have shutdown guys coming out of the pen like Sborz and Young did today. A great sign of things to come.

The offense sputtered a little bit on Sunday as well only scoring six runs. Derek Fisher lead the attack going one for two and two walks but it was his three run home run in the 5th that scored all the runs the Hoos were going to need. Thank God Toledo wasn't able to throw strikes, because being held to three hits as the Rockets did is usually a recipe for disaster for any UVa team. Eight walks and two Toledo errors was thankfully enough for UVa to gain a lead and never give it up.

The young season is only seven games old, but I don't think any UVa fan is upset with how it has gone so far. A perfect start and it doesn't look like this team is going to face much of a challenge for the next couple weeks. This week the boys only have one midweek game against George Washington University who is 0-5 after getting swept by South Carolina Upstate this weekend. Shouldn't be a good one on Tuesday, but I will do my best to bring you the coverage! As always, Go Hoos!