VI’s Seven-Run Eighth Spoils UVa-Wise Inaugural Night Game

March 26, 2008
Boxscore

Wise, Va. – As the temperature and sun went down on the evening, the Virginia Intermont bats heated up late in the game Wednesday night at the Inaugural Night Game for UVa-Wise’s Stallard Field. Trailing 6-1, the Cobras scored seven runs in the eighth including a grand slam to cap the at bat by Zack Roberts to edge out the win 8-6.

Josh Verts (Winchester, Va.) lined a two-run homer and an rbi single on the night. Brad Robbins (Big Stone Gap, Va.) belted a solo home run, his sixth. Jorge Laboy (Woodbridge, Va.) added an rbi double and a single while Brad Ricker (Bristol, Va.) singled twice with two runs. UVa-Wise (10-12) starter David Jones (Amelia, Va.) posted a perfect opening three frames with five strikeouts and Seth Frisby (Yorktown, Va.) had a perfect seventh with two strikeouts.

Virginia Intermont (13-16) did not have a multiple hit batter but the big hit came off Roberts belted a line drive grand slam to right field for the game-winning hit in the eighth. Tyler Coleman added a double.

In the first, Laboy singled and scored off the hit and field error with Verts batting for a 1-0 contest. Two innings later, Ricker singled up the middle, stole second and scored on a Mike Lang ( Fredericksburg, Va.) single. Two batters later, Verts lined a two-run homer to left to go ahead 4-0.

The Cobras pushed across their first tally when Jay Steel was hit by a pitch, stole second and came around on a John Stearatt single to make it 4-1 in the fourth.

UVa-Wise added single score in the fifth by a Ricker single and scored on a Laboy double to the right field fence. Robbins led off the home sixth by crushing his sixth homer to right field for a 6-1.

The Cavs were cruising into the top of the eighth when the wheels fell off. The Cobras’ Mark Lineberry led off by reaching on a fielding error. After three runs and a second fielding error by UVa-Wise, Virginia Intermont had the bases loaded with one out when Roberts connected for the grand slam to right for what would be the difference, 8-6.

Miquel Pereira and Rudy Staton did not allow a run in the final two innings for the visitors to complete the 8-6 comeback victory.

UVa-Wise will host Southern Virginia in a Thursday twinbill starting at 1:00 p.m.