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Credit the Yellow Jacket ball club for putting up a fight the entire weekend. They lost all three games this weekend by a combined 4 runs. But when you play UVa, you have to have your best every day, and hope that UVa doesn't play up to their standard.
After great showings from the pitching staff on Friday and Saturday, Sunday was no different thanks to Brandon Waddell. Waddell earned his 7th win of the season after allowing only 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4. Austin Young showed the depth of the bullpen by throwing a 1-2-3 8th. And Nick Howard was Nick Howard in the 9th, earning his 17th save of the season. Howard came in to the day 2 saves behind the two nation leaders in saves, so that save pulls him within one.
Nobody can argue that the Cavalier offense isn't consistent up and down the lineup. Only two players in the starting lineup went hitless on the afternoon, while three had two hits. Towns, Fisher, and Cogswell all scored runs on the day, while Towns, Downes, and LaPrise all had RBI. Such a balanced attack will be a daunting task to any team the Cavaliers face. Any player in this lineup will be feared by opposing staffs, as there are no "easy outs."
The win runs the Cavalier record to 41-9 on the season and 21-6 in the ACC. As I'm writing this, Duke is beating Miami 4-3 in the 8th. If the Blue Devils an pull out the victory, the Hoos would move a half game in front of the Hurricanes thanks to taking the series in Miami earlier in the season. With only one weekend left on the schedule, that's a good place to be.
The boys have Monday off before returning to the field on Tuesday to welcome VCU to the Davenport. They'll finish up the regular season by traveling to Winston Salem to take on Wake in the final regular season series.