Comeback falls just short, Hoos fall 9-8

Thanks to their sweep in Friday night's doubleheader, Virginia was able to come away with the series win despite dropping game three by a score of 9-8. Wake Forest used a six run sixth inning to take a commanding 8-1 lead that looked like it might be enough to salvage a weekend win. But the Hoos came roaring back getting two runs in the sixth, three runs in the seventh, and the two tying runs in the eighth. The rally just wouldn't come to pass though as a throwing error allowed Wake Forest to score the go ahead run in the top of the ninth and give the Hoos a deficit they just couldn't come back from.

Wake jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but after that, Virginia starter Tommy Doyle settled in and pitched great in the second through the fifth. Then in the sixth the Deacons got to him. On the day, Doyle pitched five innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on six hits to go along with five walks and two strike outs. Bennett Sousa came on to relieve Doyle in the sixth and stopped the bleeding allowing the Hoos' bats to come back over the next three innings. In the end it was Alec Bettinger who took the loss. After entering the game in the eighth to get the Hoos out of a jam and keep the game tied, Bettinger couldn't get the final three outs in the ninth and give the bats a chance to win it in the ninth.

Pavin Smith led the Hoos at the plate going 3-4 with two RBIs and one run scored highlighted by a seventh inning tripe that scored Adam Haseley. Cameron Simmons, Andy Weber, and Hasely all chipped in two hits apiece for the Cavaliers. Out of the starting lineup only Matt Thaiss didn't score a run for Virginia on the day.

The loss takes the Cavaliers record to 15-6 overall and 4-2 in the ACC. They'll face James Madison this Tuesday before heading to Louisville to take on the #5 Cardinals in a huge ACC series.