BASEBALL: Virginia falls in series opener

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: April 4, 2008

In Tallahassee, Fla, for the first time since June 4, 2006, Virginia pitcher Jacob Thompson took a loss.
Despite being spotted two runs before he ever took the mound, Virginia’s ace was battered and beaten by Florida State’s deadly offensive attack.
The second-ranked Seminoles regained the lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back as they collected 11 total hits off Thompson en route to a 10-3 series-opening victory at Dick Howser Stadium.
Florida State (26-3, 12-1 ACC) also took advantage of five walks off Thompson, who had not lost in his last 22 starts.
No. 14 Virginia, mired in a rare two-game losing streak, dropped to 24-7 overall and 8-5 in the conference, remaining tied for third place in the Coastal Division with Georgia Tech.
“I think Florida State has a very talented offensive team,” said Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. “They are very, very aggressive in the box, but the amazing thing is that they are also leading the country in walks, so they are aggressive, but they are aggressive at pitches in the strike zone.
“Because they are so aggressive, you try to pitch off the plate a little bit and then you end up walking them. They are definitely the best offensive club that we have faced this year — there is no question.”
Virginia took its early lead after first baseman Jeremy Farrell drilled a two-out, two-run homer off Florida State starter Matt Fairel.
“That was a big home run to put us up 2-0, especially on the road,” O’Connor said. “You feel pretty good about that start.”
The lead was gone in the blink of an eye as the Seminoles sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs against Thompson (4-1).
“The frustrating thing about the first inning was that we gave it right back and then some,” O’Connor said. “You are not going win many Friday games in this league giving up 10 runs.”
FSU added two runs in the third, going up 6-2, before Thompson settled into a groove, pitching into the seventh. For the game, he allowed seven runs - six earned - and struck out just one batter.
“Jacob has done a lot of great things for our team,” O’Connor said, “but his team needs him now to pitch low-run ballgames on Friday night. And he didn’t do that tonight.
“You have to attack them, you have to be fearless and you have to go after people. We didn’t do that tonight.”
Fairel took advantage of FSU’s early lead, improving to 7-0 overall on the mound as he scattered six hits and three walks and fanned seven.
UVa scored its final run in the ninth on an RBI groundout by Greg Miclat with the bases loaded. 
The two teams will meet tonight at 7 p.m.