Virginia baseball drops home opener to VMI

On its first day of existence, Davenport Field at Disharoon Park hosted Virginia’s loss to in-state foe Virginia Military Institute. While an early season mid-week loss is nothing new to the ‘Hoos, the Cavaliers didn’t perform well on Tuesday night. The Cavaliers fell behind early after Griff McGary struggled in his debut, giving up five earned runs while facing only seven batters.

The Keydets opened the scoring early thanks to a Will Malbon single through the left side and followed it up with a bases loaded walk and a another single up the middle, plating three more after a Jake McCarthy error and made it a quick 5-0. Malbon followed up the first inning production with another single in the top of the second inning to make it 7-0.

The Hoos would fight back in the bottom of the second but were unable to add anything else after Daniel Ortiz’s infield single brought in Charlie Cody. The ‘Hoos settled in after the second and held the Keydets scorless for four innings thanks to some strong performances by the pair of freshman Blake Rohm and Kyle Whitten.

In the fifth inning, the Cavaliers showed some signs of life when Justin Novak led the inning off with a bunt single and an Andy Weber base knock. Caleb Knight gave the Virginia team life when he dropped in a two-out, two-run double down the right-field line.

Virginia made another comeback push in the sixth when they put runners on the corners with no outs. But that threat was quickly vanquished when Daniel Ortiz grounded into a double play, although Alex Tappen scored, bringing the ‘Hoos within three at 7-4.

The Keydets effectively iced the game in the eighth when Matt Dunleavy singled up the middle, scoring two to make it 9-4. VMI’s relief pitching would be enough to get it done the rest of the way as they held Virginia scoreless in their last two at bats.

Caleb Knight led Virginia with 3 hits and 2 RBI’s while Daniel Ortiz added another hit and RBI.

Virginia dropped to 2-2 on the season and will open up series play this weekend against Eastern Kentucky on Friday at 3PM at Davenport Field.