Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Virginia
3/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (March 3, 2001) - Senior right-hander B.J. Benik (Southampton, NJ) yielded just one earned run over seven innings to lead Seton Hall to a 9-4 win over the University of Virginia on Saturday. Virginia earned a split with a 2-1 win in the second game at UVa Baseball Field.
In the opener, Seton Hall (1-4) jumped out to a 9-0 lead as Benik held Virginia scoreless through the first five innings. The Pirates scored two runs in the second, third and fourth innings in opening up a 6-0 advantage.
Junior shortstop Chris Carter (Fair Haven, NJ) gave Seton Hall the early lead when he connected for a two-run home run to left field - the first of his career - with two out in the second inning. Senior designated hitter Kevin Leighton (Brewster, NY) plated senior first baseman Brian Leighton with a sacrifice fly in the third inning. Junior second baseman Josh Schuck (Edison, NJ) and Brian Leighton added RBI singles in the fourth as the Pirates jumped on Virginia starter Brandon Creswell (2-1) for nine hits in his five innings.
Brian Leighton, who went 3-for-4, added an RBI triple in the Pirates' three-run sixth. Senior catcher Adam Arslanian (Fair Lawn, NJ) and sophomore leftfielder Casey Grimm (Morristown, NJ) contributed RBI singles.
After struggling in his season opener against North Carolina, Benik bounced back by scattering seven hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and did not allow a walk. The only earned run he yielded came on a solo home run by Virginia catcher Mark Rueffert in the bottom of the sixth.
Seton Hall finished with 14 hits in the opener with eight different players breaking into the hit column.
In the second game, freshman left-hander Joseph Koshansky (2-0) pitched a complete-game seven-hitter, outdueling Seton Hall junior left-hander Isaac Pavlik (Rutherford, NJ).
Rueffert, who singled to lead off the seventh inning, scored the deciding run on catcher Andrew Riesenfeld's double off the centerfield fence.
Virginia scored first when Eric Christensen came home on a bunt single by David Stone in the bottom of the third inning.
Seton Hall tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth. Junior centerfielder Mike Bascom (Ocean Township, NJ) drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a single by senior rightfielder Joe Cuervo (Warren, NJ). Cuervo stole second and Bascom scored as the catcher's throw sailed over second base into centerfield.
The Pirates had a number of excellent scoring opportunities, but stranded five runners in scoring position. Seton Hall loaded the bases with one out in the top of the third, but Koshansky got Kevin Leighton to ground into a double play to end the threat.
Pavlik (0-2), who lost a 3-0 decision to North Carolina in his first start of the season, pitched well again, but received little support. He gave up seven hits in seven innings, striking out three batters without a walk. His 2.03 ERA is best among Seton Hall starting pitchers.
Cuervo (three singles) and Arslanian (double, single) combined for five of the Pirates' seven hits in the second game.
Seton Hall and Virginia close out their three-game series on Sunday, March 4 with a single game beginning at 1 p.m.
