Cavaliers Now

Virginia Baseball Earns Doubleheader Sweep Against Rhode Island

The Cavaliers outscored the Rams 25-6 to take both games on Saturday at Disharoon Park

Matt Newton

Olivia Taylor/Virginia Athletics

Kyle Teel continued his hot start to the 2023 season during Saturday's doubleheader, recording six hits, four RBI, and four runs scored across the two games to help the No. 19 Virginia baseball team defeat Rhode Island 12-6 and 13-0 on Saturday at Disharoon Park. 

Game 1: Rhode Island 6, Virginia 12

It didn't take long for the UVA bats to get going as the Cavaliers put up seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Griff O'Ferrall got on base on an error, advanced to the third on a single by Ethan O'Donnell, and scored on a Jake Gelof single to center field. Kyle Teel then delivered a base hit into right field that scored O'Donnell and Gelof. Another error and a fielder's choice moved Teel to third and then he scored on a single from Henry Godbout. Fellow freshman Harrison Didawick followed that up with another RBI single and then Colin Tuft hit a two-run single. Taking advantage of a few Rhode Island errors, Virginia drove in seven runs in the inning on six singles. 

The Rams got on the board with a solo home run from Billy Butler in the top of the second, but Virginia answered back with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Virginia loaded the bases and then Henry Godbout grounded into a double play, scoring Kyle Teel from third. 

Nick Parker gave up just one run through the first four innings of the game, but ran into trouble in the top of the fifth, putting two runners on base on a walk and a single before giving up a three-run home run to Addison Kopack. 

With Virginia's lead down to just 8-4, UVA added a run in the bottom of the fifth on a groundout by Colin Tuft and again in the bottom of the seventh on a home run by Ethan Anderson that bounced off the scoreboard in right center field. 

Rhode Island scored on a pair of solo home runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but Virginia scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth, including a solo shot from Ethan O'Donnell, to maintain a healthy separation on the scoreboard. 

It wasn't the cleanest showing from the Virginia pitching staff, as Rhode Island scored six runs on 10 hits, but the UVA bats made sure that it didn't matter, scoring 12 runs on 14 hits to secure the 12-6 win. 

Chase Hungate was credited with the win after pitching 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and Bradley Hodges got the save, pitching the final three innings, giving up two runs on two hits and striking out four batters. 

Game 2: Rhode Island 0, Virginia 13

The second game was a much better outing for the UVA pitching staff and it started with Brian Edgington, who was simply brilliant. Edgington pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just three hits, two walks, and striking out 10 batters. The freshmen trio of Cullen McKay, Kevin Jaxel, and Evan Blanco each pitched a hitless inning in relief to secure the shutout victory. 

The Virginia offense made sure that the exquisite pitching performance didn't go to waste. Casey Saucke doubled to score Kyle Teel in the second inning and then came around to score on a wild pitch. Justin Rubin grounded out later in the inning to score Ethan Anderson and Henry Godbout scored on a bunt single from Griff O'Ferrall, giving Virginia a 4-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Virginia put together a five-run two-out rally thanks to a dropped flyball that allowed O'Ferrall and Harrison Didawick to score. Kyle Teel drove in Jake Gelof with a single and then Ethan Anderson brought home Teel with a single. Saucke capped the inning by stealing home to make it 9-0. 

UVA added two more runs in the fifth as Luke Hanson and Ethan O'Donnell drew walks and then scored on a Jake Gelof groundout and a Kyle Teel single, respectively. Hanson brought home Colin Tuft with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning and Ethan Anderson single to score Anthony Stephan in the seventh as Virginia cruised to the 13-0 victory. 

Still undefeated at 10-0 on the season, Virginia will look to complete the series sweep over Rhode Island on Sunday at 1pm at Disharoon Park. 

To stay up to date on all Virginia Cavaliers sports news, follow CavaliersNow on social media:

Facebook: @CavaliersNow
Twitter: @CavaliersNowFN

See more Virginia baseball news and content: Virginia Baseball on Sports Illustrated

See more Virginia sports news and content: Virginia Cavaliers on Sports Illustrated

Published
Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

Home/Baseball