Hoos take down Panthers; Sweep series

Virginia needed a sweep. Virginia got a sweep. After the murderer’s row of opponents the Hoos faced to start the season, the Cavaliers must take advantage of weekends like this one. Adam Haseley was terrific going 6.1 innings, and giving up three runs on only three hits. In fact, he made pretty easy work of the Panthers early retiring Pitt batters one, two, three in five of the six inning he pitched.

The Hoos were slow and steady at the plate scoring single runs in the first, third, fourth, and sixth. They got things started early with Andy Weber singling, then scoring when Pitt’s Alex Amos dropped a Pavin Smith fly ball in the first. Weber would score again in the third, this time on an RBI single by Robbie Coman.

As Haseley was on cruise control, Virginia made the score 3-0 when Cameron Simmons scored on an RBI single by Jake McCarthy. Then the Hoos would deliver the final blow as Caleb Knight hit his second home run of the weekend and third of the season.

Haseley would get into a little hot water in the seventh when he hit Amos and Caleb Parry got a single. That would bring up Frank Maldonado who’d bring the Panthers within one with a three-run home run. That would be all for Haseley who’d be relieved by Chesdin Harrington. Harrington gave up a single, but notched the last two outs of the inning and Virginia escaped with a 4-3 lead.

Harrington stayed in to pitch a perfect eighth and then gave way to Tommy Doyle who came to get the save in the ninth.

Simmons had three hits on the day while Weber had two and scored two runs.

The win ups Virginia’s record to 26-8, and 8-7 in the ACC. The Hoos stay in state this week when they host VCU on Tuesday then travel to Blacksburg for an ACC Coastal showdown this weekend.