Sponsors Support

Sabre Edge Features    

Red Storm Calm Cavalier Bats

By Greg Waters

Jun 03, 2005

UVa starter Matt Avery ran into trouble in the fifth inning.
St. John's shortstop P.J. Antoniato slapped a bases-loaded single in the sixth inning to break open a tied game and provide the margin of victory in Virginia's 5-3 loss today in the opening game of the NCAA tournament's Corvallis (Ore.) Regional.

The Cavaliers failed to muster much offense against St John's shutdown closer Craig Hansen and three relievers. Hansen, who is expected to be one of the top 10-12 players taken in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft, started a game for the first time in two seasons. The Big East Pitcher of the Year went seven innings, scattering eight hits and allowing three earned runs.

For the 'Hoos, the wildness that plagued their pitching staff in the ACC title game continued. Unfortunately, the hot hitting that got them to the championship contest did not. UVa pitchers yielded seven passes on six walks and a hit batsman.

Matt Avery got the start and struggled with his control, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks in four-plus innings.

Virginia (41-19) jumped on Hansen and the Red Storm (40-16) early, plating two runs in the bottom of the third on Sean Doolittle's double that scored Kyle Werman and Ryan Zimmerman.

Craig Hansen, normally a closer, settled down after a shaky start.
St. John's answered with three runs in the top of the fifth as Avery hit the leadoff batter and then allowed four consecutive singles, scoring Chris Joachim and Joe Burke. Doolittle replaced Avery on the mound and walked the first batter he faced to score the third St. John's run, but he forced the next two batters to fly out and limit the damage.

Virginia tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Tim Henry reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second and advanced to third on Matt Street's single up the middle. Henry scored on Ryan Zimmerman's fly ball to right field.

The Cavaliers had their chances late, leaving runners in scoring position in the sixth and the bases loaded in the eighth.

Doolittle (3-2) took the loss, his second consecutive, after allowing two runs, walking two and giving up four hits in just one inning of work. Antoniato's single up the middle in the sixth was the big blow. Scott Morgenthaler and closer Casey Lambert provided 3.2 innings of shutout relief, allowing just two hits and fanning three.

Werman and Doolittle led the 'Hoos at the plate. Both went 2-for-4 with Doolittle posting two RBI and Werman scoring once.

Just as they did a year ago in the Charlottesville Regional, the Cavs face an uphill battle to advance to the Super Regional, needing to win four consecutive games over the next three days. The effort starts tomorrow as the 'Hoos face the loser of the Oregon State-Ohio State contest later this evening.

Saturday's game will be broadcast by WINA 1070-AM in Charlottesville and can be heard at www.virginiasports.com. Game time is at 4:00 PM EST with the pregame show starting at 3:45 EST.


Printer-friendly Printer-Friendly   E-mail this Article E-mail this Article