April 7, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - For the third time in the last five days, the University of Virginia knocked off a ranked team, defeating No. 23 Virginia Commonwealth on Wednesday, 14-1. The game was called in the seventh inning due to the 12-run mercy rule. With the win, the Cavaliers improve to 15-20 on the season. The Rams, meanwhile, fall to 25-8.

Virginia blasted 19 total hits on the day, one shy of the season-high 20 hits the Cavaliers had March 20 against Duke. The 14 runs scored was also the second-highest run total of the season for Virginia. VCU, which had defeated the Wahoos 7-2 Feb. 14 in the final day of the Winn-Dixie Shootout in Charleston, S.C., was held to just two hits on the day and scored its only run on a groundout.

The offensive barrage began for the Cavaliers in the third inning with three runs on four hits and a Ram error. UVa tacked on three more runs in the fourth in peculiar fashion. Designated hitter Jon Metzger, who hit his first-career home run Tuesday at Richmond, hit his second long ball in as many days with the sacks full. However, he passed Julian Gonzalez at first as the ball's path over the fence was questionable. Subsequently, Metzger was called out and awarded a three-run single.

Virginia batted around in the fifth, plating six runs on five hits and another VCU error to extend its lead to 12-1. Robbie Marvin bounced a two-run doubled down the leftfield line to cap the scoring in the inning. Then Jon Benick hit a two-run double with two outs in the seventh to invoke the mercy rule.

On the day, all nine Virginia starters had at least one hit and eight had at least two hits. Marvin, the only Cavalier to not get two hits, still reached base three times as he walked once and was hit by a pitch. Gonzalez and Michael Floyd each had a team-high three hits, while Metzger and Benick drove in four runs and three runs, respectively. Benick's 2-for-5 day extended his streak of consecutive games with at least two hits to nine games.

Justin Martin finished the day 2-for-3, collecting the Rams only two hits of the afternoon. Everett Cooper plated Jake Anthony, who was hit to lead off the second, with a ground out to second.

Tommy Keiper (2-1) picked up the win for the Cavaliers, going five innings and allowing one run on one hit with one walk and three strike outs. Jon Metzger tossed the final two innings for the Cavs, surrendering one hit with three whiffs.

Bo Acors (2-1) was shelled for six runs, four earned, on 10 hits in three and two-thirds innings with four walks and five strike outs in the losing effort.

Virginia will take a day off before opening a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series with Wake Forest at 3 p.m. Friday in Winston-Salem. VCU will host a Colonial Athletic Association series with No. 21 East Carolina this weekend.

VIRGINIA 14, No. 23 VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH 1

VCU (25-8)  010 000 0 -  1  2  2
UVa (15-20) 003 360 2 - 14 19  1

WP - Keiper (2-1). LP - Acors (2-1). Sv - None. Acors, Shirley (4), Farkas (5) and Cooper; Keiper, Metzger (6) and Benick. T - 2:11. A - 264.