May 21, 2009

DURHAM, N.C. (theACC.com) – Virginia scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning and held on for a 6-5 victory behind the strong relief pitching of senior Andrew Carraway Thursday night in Game 6 of the 2009 ACC Baseball Championship.

Carraway, who was 5-1 in 12 starts in the regular season, was making his first relief appearance of the year. He retired 12 consecutive batters before giving up his only hit of the night, a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth inning to Clemson shortstop Brad Miller.

Carraway (6-1), who struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced in 4 1/3 innings, took over for starter Matt Packer in the bottom of the fourth, striking out Kyle Parker to end the inning. Sophomore Kevin Arico pitched the ninth for his ninth save of the year.

Clemson reliever Scott Weisman (2-1) suffered the loss.

The sixth-seeded Cavaliers opened the decisive fifth inning with a solo homer over the left field wall by outfielder Jarrett Parker. With one out, Danny Hultzen and Dan Grovatt hit back-to-back singles, followed by a triple by third baseman Steve Proscia.

Proscia scored on the play to give his team a 6-5 lead when Miller’s relay throw went to the backstop for an error.

The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead, with a single run in the second and three runs in the third, with center fielder Wilson Boyd delivering a two-run single and catcher John Nester driving in a run with a sacrifice fly in the latter frame.

In the top of the fourth, Virginia first baseman John Hicks hit a two-run homer over the left-field wall to cut the Tigers’ lead in half, 4-2.

The Tigers pushed their lead back to three runs when designated hitter Chris Epps hit a double to left field and scored on Mike Freeman’s sacrifice fly.

But Clemson did not get a runner past second base after that.

Clemson (39-18) faces Duke on Friday at 4 p.m., while Virginia (40-12-1) plays North Carolina in the nightcap at 8 p.m.

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