Virginia Baseball: Haseley and Coman lead UVA to a 7-3 win

Jake McCarthy gets aboard. Adam Haseley knocks him in. Rinse and repeat. The number two and three hitters in the Virginia batting lineup have been run producing machines this season and Friday night was no different. Haseley stole the show going 4-4 with two home runs and five runs batted in. McCarthy was aboard for both of Haseley’s big flies and his single in the second moved Ernie Clement into scoring position for a Haseley RBI single. But how about the day from Robbie Coman. The fifth year also had four hits and also hit two home runs. The pair paced a Cavalier lineup that supplied the firepower to deliver a 7-3 win over Rutgers.

After giving up a solo run in the top half of the first, the boys jumped on the Scarlet Knights early and were able to use the long ball to their advantage. After McCarthy was hit by a pitch, Haseley followed up with a home run off the left field foul pole, the 9th of the junior Cavalier’s career.

UVa got back to manufacturing runs in the 2nd with three straight two-out singles from Clement, McCarthy, and Haseley to extend the lead to 3-1.

Rutgers would strike back in third by pushing across a run after starter Daniel Lynch issued two walks, but Coman led off the bottom half of the inning with his first homer since 2015.

The Scarlet Knights refused to quit and struck back in the 5th after Lynch issued a leadoff walk. They would threaten more by loading the bases with 2 outs, but Lynch struck out the Rutgers catcher to end the threat.

Lynch would only last 5.1 innings, ultimately giving way to Alec Bettinger in the 6th. Lynch exited with the 4-3 lead, but 4 walks directly led to two of Rutgers’ runs. Allowing 7 hits did not help matters either, but Virginia pitches to contact; it is the free bases that bite UVa pitchers and bit Lynch today.

Luckily the offense would pick up the Virginia starter by getting some insurance in the sixth. After a walk to McCarthy, Haseley struck again with an opposite field home run to make the score 6-4. Not to be outdone, Coman too would hit his second home run of the game, this one a lined rocket ten rows deep just inside the left field foul pole, good for a 7-3 Virginia lead through six.

With a four run lead, Bettinger was fantastic. The senior right hander pitched 2.2 innings of shut out ball, giving up no runs on two hits, and striking out four. Tommy Doyle would seal the win with a scoreless ninth.

The two teams return to action tomorrow at 1 P.M. from Davenport Field. On the mound for Virginia will be Evan Sperling looking for the series win and his second win of the year.