Verts All-Around Game, Funk Blast Propels UVA-Wise to Baseball Opening Win

February 9, 2007
Boxscore

Franklin Springs, GA – The 2007 baseball season started off with a barrage of runs for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Josh Verts’ all-around effort and Brock Funk’s three-run homer propelled UVA-Wise past host Emmanuel College, 14-4, in seven innings.

Verts (Winchester, VA/John Handley) posted four scoreless frames where he allowed just two hits, walked one and fanned four to pick up the victory. At the plate, the junior was a perfect 4-4 at the plate with two rbi to lead the 14-hit Highland Cavalier (1-0) attack. Andrew Anderson ( Richmond, VA/Monacan) was three for three with a homer while Funk (Fries, VA/Grayson County) drove in five runs with a homer and two hits. Jorge Laboy ( Woodbridge, VA/C.D. Hylton) and Jeremy Wright ( Bristol, VA/ Virginia) both added two hits apiece and combined for three rbi.

Sophomore Brad Robbins (Big Stone Gap, VA) pitched two-thirds of an inning. Matt Begley ( Norton, VA) finished the final 2 1/3 frames with four strikeouts on the hill.

Leading 6-3 after five innings, UVA-Wise produced some two out magic to seal the season-opening victory. Laboy singled and Verts was hit by a pitch before Funk blasted a three-run round-tripper to break open the contest. Anderson and Edwin Narvaez followed with singles. Wright drove in Anderson to make increase the lead to 10-3.

Funk started the year for UVA-Wise by driving in both Laboy and Verts in the first inning to have an early 2-0 advantage over Emmanuel (1-6). Anderson made the game 6-0 with a solo home run in the top of the fifth.

The Cavs added another four runs in the seventh to run rule the Lions, 14-4.

UVA-Wise will complete the three-game weekend series with two seven-inning contests against Emmanuel starting at 12:00 p.m.

UVA 201 214 4 14-14-1
EC 000 031 0 4-3-3

WP: Josh Verts (1-0) C-Alan Stoupa
LP: Mitch Griffin C-Zack Harris
HR: Brock Funk (1); Andrew Anderson (1)