Virginia Baseball Drops Opener at FSU 6-4

In a roller coaster of a baseball game, the Cavaliers dropped game one of the series against Florida State in Tallahassee on Friday night, 6-4.

Daniel Lynch took the ball for the Hoos and got off to quite a rocky start. After retiring the first batter, FSU’s next two hit solo shots to give the Noles an early 2-0 lead. Lynch would settle down after that for a few innings and allow the UVa offense to gain its footing.

That footing would come in the 4th inning. Adam Haseley would lead off the inning by grounding out back to the pitcher, but the next four hitters would reach base allowing UVa to tie the game, 2-2. Nate Eikhoff would ground out allowing Caleb Knight to score giving the Hoos a 3-2 lead.

After an Ernie Clement double to lead off the 5th and an Adam Haseley 1 out fielder’s choice, the Cavaliers would have a 4-2 lead.

Unfortunately, that would be all the offense UVa would be able to muster. FSU would score two runs in the 5th to tie the game. In the 6th, FSU would take the lead for good with a 2 run home run, taking the lead for good.

The Cavaliers would threaten again, including runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in the 9th, but two straight outs would put away the Hoos for good.

Daniel Lynch gave UVa a decent start, pitching into the 5th and only allowing only 3 runs (the 4th earned run came with Harrington on the mound). Chesdin Harrington’s two runs in the 6th are ultimately what did UVa in, but the offense appeared like it would be able to overcome that two run deficit at that time.

Although they were able to score 4 runs, UVa’s normally potent offense came up just short. Eikhoff was the only hitter in the lineup to register a multi-hit game, and only four were able to reach base multiple times.

However, the key stat for the night is 1-13. That was UVa’s record at the plate with runners in scoring position. That would make it hard for any team to win.

The two teams will square off again Saturday afternoon at 1 in Tallahassee.