Box Score Feb. 18, 2012
Final Stats
Photo Gallery
CONWAY - Virginia hit three-run home runs in the seventh and eighth innings to claim a 9-3 come-from-behind win over host Coastal Carolina at the Caravelle Resort Tournament at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field. Due to forecast inclement weather, Coastal turned around to host Boston College, while Virginia would travel to Myrtle Beach to face James Madison at BB&T Coastal Field to conclude the tournament.
A crowd of 1,635 witnessed the showdown, which is a record at Watson Stadium for a regular season game. The previous best was the 2011 season opener when 1,373 came out to see Coastal Carolina claim a 9-6 win over Boston College, thanks to a three-run, walk-off home run by Hayes Orton.
Jared King and Chris Taylor did the damage with the three-run blasts while Whit Mayberry (1-0) was credited with the win.
Mayberry allowed six hits and two run with no walks and four strikeouts for the win.
In the top of the fifth, Virginia loaded the bases with two outs, but Josh Conway escaped unscathed by getting a fly out to center field. In the home half, Coastal senior Daniel Bowman hit a leadoff single and scored one batter later on Bryce Dial's two-run home run.
Virginia cut their deficit in half, 2-1, starting the sixth with Mike Papi and Jared King getting singles off reliever Aaron Burke. Colin Harrington then loaded the bases thanks to a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Freshman Austin Kerr came out of the bullpen and got Derek Fisher to foul out, with CCU catcher Tucker Frawley making a nice catch at the backstop. The Cavaliers would push a run across when Nate Irving drew a bases loaded walk. Kerr then struck out Keith Werman and freshman right hander Patrick Corbett (0-1) came out of the bullpen to strike out Taylor to end the inning.
The Cavaliers took a 4-2 lead in the seventh. With one out, Stephen Bruno singled and Papi walked, setting the stage for a three-run home run by King down the left-field line.
In the eighth, Virginia hit another three-run homer down the left-field line and sent 10 men to the plate to put the visitors in control. Irving and Werman drew leadoff walks and Taylor, who had not gotten a hit in his first eight at bats in 2012, lined a home run just over the wall next to the foul pole. Reed Gragnani was hit by a pitch and lifted for pinch runner Mitchell Shifflett, who stole second and scored on Jared King single. King would then steal second and score on Colin Harrington's RBI single for a 9-2 Cavalier lead.
Corbett was saddled with the loss, allowing two hits and four runs with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings. Overall, Coastal Carolina pitchers allowed 12 walks and hits three.
