Sports

Bats Still Scorching for Unbeaten Virginia

Posted: 4:36 PM Mar 3, 2013

The No. 19 Virginia baseball team stayed perfect at 12-0 with a 9-1 victory over Bucknell Sunday afternoon at Davenport Field. The Cavaliers swept through their four games over the weekend, winning two games each over Bucknell and Harvard.

“Overall it was a very good weekend of baseball for us,” Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor said. “Playing four games in a weekend presents some physical challenges and we showed that with some of our play defensively today, but overall I thought we played well. We had good pitching, played good defense and swung the bats well.”

Virginia starting pitcher Nick Howard (So., Olney, Md.) recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in six strong innings of work. Howard (2-0) gave up an earned run and five hits and did not walk a batter.

Branden Cogswell wrapped up a big weekend by going 2-for-2, driving in a pair and reaching base four times. He went 7-for-13, scored seven runs and reached base in 12 of his 18 plate appearances in the Cavaliers’ four games this weekend.

Brandon Downes added three hits for the Cavaliers.

Virginia returns to action at 4 p.m. Wednesday when it plays VMI at Davenport Field. The Cavaliers’ ACC-opening series is next weekend (March 8-10) when they entertain Maryland.