Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Danny Hultzen’s two-run single in the sixth inning helped No. 10 Virginia take the lead for good as the Cavaliers topped visiting Norfolk State 6-2 on Wednesday night at Davenport Field.

NSU (6-10) led the highly-regarded Cavaliers (24-4) 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth before Virginia rallied. Spartan reliever Ryan Davis (Gilbert, Ariz.) retired two batters but also issued three walks in the inning, one of them intentionally, before being lifted in favor of Ryan Shook (Virginia Beach, Va.). Hultzen greeted Shook with a two-run single to center, giving the Cavaliers the lead for good, at 3-2.

Virginia added three runs in the seventh, also off of Shook. The freshman right hander struck out the first two hitters in the inning, but the second, Franco Valdes, reached first on a dropped third strike. David Coleman made NSU pay later in the inning with a two-run single, and Jarrett Parker also knocked in a run with a single to give U.Va. some insurance.

NSU got on the board first with a run in the top of the second off Cavs’ starter Jeff Lorick despite not getting a hit in the frame. Brandon Hairston (North Garden, Va.) reached on an error to start the inning. He went to second on a groundout, advanced to third on a wild pitch by Lorick, and scored on an RBI groundout by Cam Parsons (Chesapeake, Va.).

Parker tied the game in the third on a solo home run off NSU starting pitcher Jason Barker (Chesapeake, Va.). But NSU quickly regained the lead in the top of the fourth. Jermaine Berry (Suffolk, Va.), Hairston and Drew Suttmiller (Chesapeake, Va.) hit consecutive one-out singles to load the bases and chase Lorick from the game. But U.Va. reliever Shane Halley promptly threw a wild pitch, allowing Berry to score and give NSU a 2-1 edge.

Halley (2-0) settled down from there to earn the win. He allowed just one hit and fanned three in 3.1 innings of relief.

NSU’s pitchers also fared well. Barker got a no-decision for the second straight start despite a strong effort. He allowed just one earned run in 4.1 innings, fanning three.

Davis (0-2) took the loss despite not allowing a hit in an inning and a third. Two of the three batters he walked scored on Hultzen’s single. Shook allowed three runs, but just one earned, in 2.1 innings of relief. He struck out three.

Suttmiller led the Spartans with three hits, giving him a pair of three-hit games in as many days. He is 7-for-9 in three games this week.

Parker and Phil Gosselin each went 3-for-4 for Virginia, which out-hit NSU 10-8.

The Spartans continue their road swing this weekend with a three-game series at Maryland Eastern Shore.