ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 25, 1996 TAG: 9605280113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: TUSCALOOSA, ALA.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
THE CAVALIERS BEAT Princeton to stay alive in the NCAA baseball tournament.
Virginia took a gamble and won Friday, defeating Princeton 12-2 in the NCAA baseball tournament while saving its ace for more formidable opposition.
The Cavaliers banged out a season-high 18 hits, including three apiece by four players, in support of sophomore right-hander Pat Daneker.
Daneker (8-5) allowed no runs and three hits over six innings in winning for the fifth time in his past six decisions. Only two UVa pitchers had won more than seven games in a season before this year.
Virginia, beaten by Notre Dame 12-1 in the opening round Thursday, plays today at 3 p.m. Junior right-hander Seth Greisinger (11-2, 1.82 earned-run average) will get the start for 15th-ranked UVa.
Greisinger has not pitched since Sunday, when the Cavaliers defeated Florida State 12-1 in the ACC championship game. He was named tournament most valuable player and was selected to the All-America team announced Thursday by Collegiate Baseball magazine.
``When I left the game [Thursday] night, I thought we were going to throw Seth,'' UVa coach Dennis Womack said. ``Our coaches and players thought we should do it differently. If it hadn't worked out, I would probably lose my job.
``I mean, here we have an All-American and I'm not going to use him? Fortunately, it worked out for us. I didn't want to ride back to Birmingham and get on that plane and Seth Greisinger hasn't even taken the mound.''
Daneker not only got the win, but he threw only 68 pitches and could be available for relief if the Cavaliers string together some wins. UVa, if it wins this afternoon, could play again at 7 p.m., depending on how many teams remain in the field.
The Cavaliers, held to three hits by a trio of Notre Dame pitchers, struck early against Princeton starter Chris Yarborough (8-2). Yarborough did not survive the sixth inning after giving up eight runs and 11 hits.
Sophomore designated hitter E.J. Anderson, who entered the tournament with a .221 average, went 3-for-4 and hit a solo home run during UVa's four-run sixth inning. Anderson has as many home runs, 13, as he does singles.
First baseman Pat Bransford was 3-for-4, with three runs batted in; shortstop Adam Robinson was 3-for-5, with two RBI, and third baseman Brian Sherlock was 3-for-4 for the Cavaliers (42-20).
Ivy League champion Princeton, a 19-2 loser Thursday night against host Alabama, went home from the double-elimination event with a 26-21 record.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB