March 11, 2005

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The University of Virginia baseball team won its third consecutive contest and its sixth game this season by shutout as the Cavaliers defeated the Marist Red Foxes 3-0 in the first contest of a three-game series at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Virginia starting pitcher Mike Ballard threw 8.0 scoreless innings and struck out a game-high nine batters and Casey Lambert posted his fourth save of year while striking out a pair of batters as the UVa pitching staff held the Red Foxes' bats quiet on the afternoon. The Cavaliers have now won by shutout in six of their 11 victories this season.

"I was really proud of our ballclub today, Marist has a very good baseball team and they'll show that this weekend," said UVa head baseball coach Brian O'Connor. "It was great to see Mike Ballard come out and pitch baseball like he's capable of. I thought our entire team was ready to play today, we were really swinging the bats and that was great to see."

After playing three scoreless innings, Virginia scored the first run of the game and made it a 1-0 ballgame when Sean Doolittle reached base on an infield single before he scored a run in UVa's next at-bat following an RBI-double off the left field wall by Brandon Guyer. Doolittle's run and Guyer's hit would eventually prove to be game-winners.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cavaliers extended their lead to 3-0 by scoring a pair of runs following a two out rally. Tim Henry and Matt Street posted back-to-back singles before Henry scored a run on a Marist error before Street came around to score a run himself on a RBI-single by Doolittle. That would be more than enough runs for Virginia as its pitching staff prevented the Red Foxes from trying to mount a comeback.

Ballard (4-1) picked up his fourth win of the season and allowed no runs on just five hits in his 8.0 innings of work. Lambert went 1.0 inning and allowed no runs while striking out two of the three batters he faced. Lambert has now struck out 14 of the 29 batters he has faced this season.

Marist starting pitcher Scott Chambers (0-2) took the loss after going 8.0 innings. He allowed three runs (one earned) on nine hits and struck out one batter.

With the victory, Virginia's record improves to 11-6 overall. The loss drops Marist's record to 1-6 on the season. The Cavaliers take a one game to none lead in the best of three series with the Red Foxes.

Virginia and Marist will return to action on Saturday, March 12th when the Cavaliers and Red Foxes play the second contest of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.