Cavs hold on for win over Yellow Jackets

By Jay Jenkins

Published: May 15, 2008

In the first 16 starts of his collegiate career, most of which came last season, Matt Packer had never managed to retire a batter in the seventh inning.
That changed Thursday night at Davenport Field in what could easily have been Virginia’s most important contest to date.
Packer hurled a career-best seven innings, scattering just five hits against Georgia Tech’s potent offense, as Virginia won 4-2 in the opening game of the series.
With the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament hanging in the balance and Virginia’s NCAA Tournament chances yet to be solidified, the starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter calmly fanned seven Yellow Jacket batters and stranded four as he was given the nod to open a game for the first time in exactly a month.
“Actually, there is less pressure that can be put on you when you only know two days in advance that you are going to be starting,” Packer chuckled. “It was almost nice not knowing ahead of time.”
In opportunistic fashion, Virginia (36-17, 15-13 ACC) managed to provide enough offense for Packer (6-2) to earn his first win since April Fools’ Day.
After falling behind 1-0 when Georgia Tech scored in the fourth, the Cavaliers scratched back with a bunting exhibition fans failed to witness in Tuesday’s win over VMI. Phil Gosselin opened the bottom-half of the fourth with a single into center and advanced to third as the bases were loaded by back-to-back bunt singles from Franco Valdes and John Barr.
Virginia third baseman Tyler Cannon, mired in a slump that has brought his average down to .256 on the season, brought home Gosselin moments later with a sacrifice fly to right field.
“Getting that run back was amazing and we knew it was only a matter of time because we were putting pressure on them,” Packer said. “To give up a run and have your team come right back and score is huge.”
Given a new lease on the ballgame, Packer suddenly found a groove in the fifth and beyond, retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced.
“I am not real sure what happened but after that run scored it was like I was back to the first inning almost,” said Packer, who credited his slider and change-up for his success. “Getting through the fifth inning was the hump for me, because usually in the fourth or fifth inning I start getting knocked around a little bit.
“Getting through the [sixth and seventh] today was the game for me.”
As Packer was cruising, Virginia responded offensively against Georgia Tech starter David Duncan in the sixth, a frame that also included two bunts - one for a hit from Barr and a sacrifice from Cannon.
But after plunking Greg Miclat with a pitch in the dirt, Duncan (7-3) appeared primed to escape the jam after he recorded the second out by fanning senior Patrick Wingfield.
Facing a 3-2 count and with two outs, however, Virginia second baseman David Adams blasted a grounder up the middle that pulled Georgia Tech shortstop Derek Dietrich to his left and allowed Miclat time to scamper into second. Left with only one play, Dietrich fired in time to get Adams at first, but his throw sailed past first baseman Tony Plagman and into the Yellow Jackets’ dugout. The error gave UVa a pair of unearned runs.
Virginia added a run in the seventh on a one-out RBI single from Barr.
Andrew Carraway, who was temporarily removed from the weekend rotation in favor of Packer, worked a perfect eighth, setting the stage for UVa closer Michael Schwimer.
The senior allowed his first extra-base hit of the season - a leadoff double to Luke Murton - and an earned run on a sacrifice fly, but escaped the inning by retiring the game’s final three batters for his 12th save of the season.
Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said the decision to start Packer against the left-handed heavy lineup for Georgia Tech was the suggestion of pitching coach Karl Kuhn.
“Boy, did it work out tonight,” O’Connor said. “Packer was in complete control of the game and Carraway came in and got some right-handed hitters out.
“It actually worked out perfect. We couldn’t have scripted it any better.”
Duncan, a 23rd-round draft of the Washington Nationals last year, allowed eight hits and four walks while striking out five and stranding 11 runners.
“Duncan is a good prospect that we have a lot of respect for,” O’Connor said. “He did a great job of pitching out of jams; we had a number of opportunities and we worked hard to get those opportunities and it showed how good Duncan is to be able to pitch out of it.”
The two teams are scheduled to play tonight at 6 p.m. as Virginia sends No. 1 starter Pat McAnaney, a lefty, to the mound. The Yellow Jackets are expected to counter with RHP Eddie Burns.