Liberty blanks Virginia baseball team

Last June, as Virginia was playing in the College World Series in Omaha, there was no bigger fan of the team than Liberty pitcher Blake Forslund.

I was pulling for them all the way, Forslund said. I was really hoping theyd get there and then win the national championship, but things didnt work out.

On Tuesday afternoon at Davenport Field, things worked out just fine for the former Virginia player.

The 6-foot-4 215-pound right-hander tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless relief and picked up the win as Liberty shocked UVa, 8-0.

It was a unique experience, Forslund said. Not many people get to come back and pitch against the program they started with, but I have nothing but good things to say about the coaches and the program [at UVa]. It was a good welcome back.

Not for Virginia it wasnt.

UVa coach Brian OConnor called the defeat one in which the Cavaliers had twice as many errors (four) as hits (two) one of the most disappointing of his tenure. It was the programs first regular-season mid-week loss at home since 2009, a string of 28 games.

They beat us in every phase of the game today, said OConnor, whose team opens a home weekend series with Wright State and Seton Hall on Friday. They certainly out-pitched us. They were more aggressive at the plate than us and they played a lot better defense than us.

Sophomore pitcher Artie Lewicki, making his first career start, was tagged for five runs (four earned) on five hits in 3.0 innings and took the loss.

Lewicki, who walked two and struck out two, got into trouble in the third. Libertys Andy Smith walked with one out and then stole second base. He scored with two outs when Tyler Cox singled to right on a 3-2 pitch. Cox moved to second after a throw from right fielder Mike Papi got away from catcher Nate Irving, then scored on the next pitch when Bryan Aanderud singled up the middle.

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Liberty blanks Virginia baseball team