Cavaliers survive in extras; eliminate host Southern Miss in 15-11 victory

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Zach Jackson delivered a two-out single in the top of the tenth to put the Cavaliers ahead in extra innings. Photo: Contributed/ACC

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Virginia Cavaliers avoided elimination in the Hattiesburg Regional with a 15-11 victory over the host and No. 9 national seed Southern Miss Golden Eagles Saturday afternoon. Zach Jackson delivered a go-ahead two RBI single with two outs in the top of the tenth followed by a Kyle Johnson two-run home run to score four runs in extras and help secure the victory.
AJ Gracia led the ‘Hoos offensively going 5-6 with three singles, a double, and a triple with five RBI.

The bats got going early for Virginia as the ‘Hoos took a 1-0 lead two batters into the game with a Holmes leadoff double followed by an RBI single from AJ Gracia. Southern Miss catcher Tucker Stockman delivered the first big hit for the Golden Eagles on a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning. Tiroly answered with a three-run bomb of his own next half inning to make it 4-3 Cavaliers.

The Golden Eagles continued to slug as Davis Gillespie put Southern Miss on top with another three-run blast in the bottom of the third 6-4. Virginia’s offense surged ahead in the top of the fourth. Three straight singles loaded the bases before Holmes drove in one run with an RBI single. Then, Gracia cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line to give the ‘Hoos an 8-6 lead. Tiroly would bring Gracia home on an RBI groundout making it 9-6.

Southern Miss got two runs back in the sixth on an RBI double from Gillespie and an RBI single from third baseman Drey Barrett to cut the Virginia lead to one. The Cavaliers had a response in the top half the seventh as Noah Murray and Gracia both connected on two-out singles with runners in scoring position to stretch the lead back to three.

Southern Miss loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth and got one run across with another RBI single from Barrett. With two outs, Stockman sent a ball into the gap in right center which scored two runs, but the defensive relay arrived in time to cut down the go-ahead run at the plate to end the inning. Both teams were held scoreless in the ninth before Virginia went ahead in the top of the tenth. Cavalier pitcher Max Stammel retired the final three batters in order in the bottom of the frame to secure the win.

The Cavaliers advance to face the loser of Jacksonville State and Little Rock scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m.