SOURCE: virginiasports.com

The No. 5 Virginia baseball team used a strong starting pitching outing from Jacob Thompson (Danville, Va.) to post a 4-1 series-opening victory over Miami Friday night in front of 2,377 at Davenport Field. Thompson recorded a career-best 10 strikeouts in an eight-inning effort to move to 6-0 on the season.

"We took advantage of some opportunities and took it to them," head coach Brian O'Connor said. "That was as good as I have seen Jacob Thompson pitch. That's what you want out of your No. 1 starter, to pitch deep into the game and give your team some quality innings."

Thompson allowed just an earned run, four hits and two walks in his eight-inning performance. Casey Lambert (Harrisonburg, Va.) struck out the side in the ninth inning to earn his fifth save. Eric Erickson (3-3) took the loss for Miami after tossing five innings, giving up two runs (one earned), five hits and a walk while striking out five.

The Cavaliers (21-4, 4-3 ACC) took the lead with a run in the bottom of the second. Patrick Wingfield (Winchester, Va.) reached on an error with one out. He then stole second and when he tried to steal third there was a throwing error that allowed him to score on the play.

Virginia added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the third. Greg Miclat (Concord, N.C.) led off the inning with a double down the left field line. He stole third and later came in to score on David Adams' (Margate, Fla.) RBI single.

Miami (14-11, 2-5) got on the board with a run in the top of the sixth. Blake Tekotte reached with a one-out infield hit. He moved to second on a groundout and came around to score on an RBI single by Mark Sobolewski.

Virginia answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Guyer (Herndon, Va.) led off the inning with a single through the right side. After he stole second, Guyer moved to third on a groundout. Wingfield drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

The Cavaliers added one additional in the run bottom of the eighth. Adams and Guyer led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Adams came around to score later in the inning on Beau Seabury's (Mount Vernon, Wash.) sacrifice fly.

Miclat led the `Hoos offense with two doubles and a stolen base. Adams and Guyer each had two hits. Tekotte had two hits to pace the Hurricanes' offense.

Game two of the series between the Cavaliers and Hurricanes is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Davenport Field. Freshman left-hander Matt Packer (Germantown, Tenn.) will start for Virginia, while Miami will throw junior left-hander Scott Maine.