March 25, 2011
Box Score | Season Stats (PDF)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -
Virginia pitcher Danny Hultzen held Maryland to one run in six innings and the third-ranked Cavaliers took advantage of three Terrapin errors in a 10-run fourth inning on the way to a 14-1 win Friday night.
The reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and a first team All-American, Hultzen entered the game with a league-best 62 strikeouts and had nine Friday. He gave up a run in the second but kept Maryland off the scoreboard his final four innings, allowing Virginia to build a sizeable lead.
The Cavaliers led 4-1 entering the bottom of the fourth and came out with a 14-1 advantage after six hits and three Maryland errors. Virginia sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning and eight of the 10 runs scored were unearned due to Terrapin miscues.
Maryland, which came into the weekend third in the conference in fielding percentage, committed a season-high five errors in the game. Junior right-hander Chuck Ghysels (1-2) made his first ACC start for the Terps but lasted only three innings, surrendering four runs on six hits, two walks and two hit batsmen in the loss.
Sander Beck had started the first five Friday-night games for Maryland this season and replaced Ghysels in the fourth, but the junior lasted just one inning.
Hultzen (5-0) earned the win as the Cavaliers improved to 22-2 overall and 6-1 in the conference.
Virginia had taken an early lead when Chris Taylor led off the first inning with a single and later came around to score on John Barr's groundout to second base.
Maryland (11-11, 1-6) answered right back in the second as designated hitter Brandon Padula tripled to left-center field and scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Tomo Delp. The Terps had an opportunity to take the lead, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but Hultzen struck out Jack Cleary to end the inning.
A hit batsman, infield single, walk and sacrifice fly gave the lead back to Virginia in the bottom half of the inning. With runners on first and second, Barr singled up the middle to score one and increase the Cavalier lead to 3-1.
Virginia upped its lead to 4-1 in the third on similar circumstances, loading the bases with a single, hit batsman and walk before Keith Werman singled through the right side with two outs to drive in Steven Proscia. Ghysels escaped further trouble by striking out Taylor and leaving the bases full of Cavaliers.
After Virginia's 10-run fourth, Terrapin pitcher Blair Delean provided four solid innings of relief, allowing just three hits and keeping the Cavaliers scoreless.
The Terps and Cavaliers conclude the series with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.
