University of Virginia Library

Cavaliers Outslug VMI, 6-1

By Dave Marshall
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

A superb pitching performance
by Rick Spigone and portentous
team hitting propelled Virginia's
Cavaliers to a 6-1 victory over VMI
yesterday at Lambeth Field.

Spigone, a right hander who was
ineligible last year, spun a
three-hitter and struck out 12 men
in going the route to bring his
season's record to 2-1. The 6-2, 185
pound Spigone was in control
almost the entire game and only
lost his shutout through some
shaky fielding in the fifth inning.

Five Virginia errors and
inopportune hitting had prevented
the Cavaliers from building a large
lead until the eighth. Then, leading
2-1, they exploded for four runs on
three hits to ice their sixth victory
in nine starts and somewhat atone
for last Friday's 9-3 loss to visiting
Maine.

The Keydets from Lexington
were stifled quickly in the first
inning. Their lead-off batter struck
out on four pitches. The number
two hitter grounded out weakly to
second base and the last batter
went down swinging on a full
count. Joel DeBoe, who led all
players with three hits in four trips,
led off the bottom half of the first
with a blooping Texas Leaguer to
center. But his teammates could
help him no farther than second
base, where he was left stranded.

In the top of the second
Spigone struck out his first man but
the second man bounced the ball to
second base-man Buzzy Schultz,
who fumbled it. Two pitches before
the next player walked, the runner
stole second. Spigone, obviously
rattled, filled the bases with a walk
on four pitches. J.C. Hanks, who
had two of VMI's hits was the next
batter. But Coach Jim West's
perseverance paid off as Spigone
bore down and struck him out on a
2-2 pitch. Then he mowed down his
opposing hurler, Don Reed, on four
pitches to escape from the inning.

In the bottom of the second
frame the Cavalier nine got on the
PK German scoreboard. With one
away Mike Cubbage drew a base on
balls. Then Terry Dan punched a
slow roller to second. When the
second base-man fielded the ball he
had no play so Dan was credited
with a hit. Next Lou Paulson
cracked a two-run single into center
field. A ground-out and pop-up
finished the frame.

VMI scored in the fifth. Hanks,
the first batter, grounded a single
between the first and second
base-men. The following batter laid
down a bunt. Spigone fielded the
ball but overthrew first. The
right-fielder backing up the throw
fielded it but overthrew third and
both runners advanced. After a
strikeout Sam Friskie socked a long
fly to center, which counted as a
sacrifice when Hanks came home
after tagging up. Spigone walked
the next two batters loading the
bases again, but bailed out of
trouble when he struck Ron Shue
out on three pitches.

With Spigone controlling the
tempo of the game the Keydets did
not threaten again.

With two away in the eighth the
Cavaliers had their big inning.
Spigone drew a walk and then
DeBoe lined a triple down the right
field line. Buzzy Schultz followed
with a triple over the
left-fielder's head. He scored when
the Keydet shortstop dropped the
relay. At this time the VMI coach
yanked Reed, a left-hander whose
phlegmatic pitching had tried the
patience of many, and replaced him
with a right-hander - Bo Smith.

The first batter to face the new
hurler, Steve Bryant, walked. He
promptly stole second and took
third when the catcher's peg sailed
over the second base-man's head.
Cubbage drove him home with a
ground single through the right side
of the infield.

One Keydet reached base in the
ninth but could not score as
Spigone induced the hitters to
ground out to the infield. Besides
DeBoe's three hits catcher Dave
Counts spiced the attack with two
hits. Virginia outhit VMI by 10-3.

At two o'clock today the
Cavaliers host small college power
Ashland at Lambeth Field. Coach
West plans to start southpaw Stan
Owens.