BASEBALL: Cavs blank Lancers to stop skid

By Jay Jenkins

Published: April 8, 2008

Virginia coach Brian O’Connor avoided something Tuesday night that he had no idea he was in danger of accomplishing.
The Cavaliers, behind stellar pitching from Jake Cowan and Matt Packer, avoided their first five-game losing streak since the coach arrived in 2004 with a 6-0 victory over Longwood at Davenport Field.
UVa, which fell out of the national rankings after losing to Towson and being swept in a weekend series at Florida State, improved to 25-9 overall.
“I think that it was important to snap the losing streak,” O’Connor said. “As frustrated as our team was coming back from Florida State, a good team keeps things in perspective and understands that happens on a weekend. You get right back to work and fortunately we did tonight.
“That’s why I always preach to the players that it is one ballgame. It was one weekend. Teams that press, it snowballs and all of a sudden the season gets away from you. Everything that we want to accomplish as a team this year is still right out there in front of us.”
Cowan, a rookie, set the tone for Virginia pitching 6.1 scoreless innings as he scattered five hits against the Lancers (18-13).
“If he doesn’t come out and throw a great ballgame for us that might be a different game,” O’Connor said. “He was throwing strikes and working ahead in the count for the most part and executing the game plan.
“He was aggressive and the ball was down in the zone. He pitched great.”
While the right-hander stifled the opposition’s bats, Virginia generated lone runs in the first and third inning fueled by the speed and two of the four hits registered by designated hitter Greg Miclat.
“We needed to score early,” O’Connor said. “And that goes back to Jake Cowan. If he doesn’t get off to a great start, maybe guys press a little bit at the plate.
“Jake was in such control of the game that it allowed our hitters to be aggressive and do their thing, and fortunately it worked.”
Miclat, who scored three runs, was driven in from third base in the opening inning on a ground out by David Adams (1 for 3, 3 RBI) and in the third inning on an RBI single from Jeremy Farrell (1 for 3).
Trailing 2-0, Longwood appeared poised to strike in the seventh off Cowan after a pair of singles were sandwiched around the freshman’s fifth strikeout of the game.
O’Connor turned to sophomore Matt Packer out of the bullpen, a move that proved pivotal. The left-hander fanned back-to-back batters to end the frame.
Virginia answered at the plate, scoring two in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
Packer also pitched scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth to give the Cavaliers’ their second shutout of the season.
Longwood’s John Farrell, who allowed six hits in six innings, took the loss, falling to 2-3 on the season.
The Cavaliers return to action tonight at 6 p.m. as they host Liberty. As a special promotion, UVa is wearing throwback uniforms and offering select items in the concession stands for reduced prices.