Pirates go down in grand fashion

From electronic and staff reports
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All rights reserved.

Sophomore designated hitter/third baseman Kenny Towns belted grand slams in the first and seventh innings to propel No. 25 Virginia to a 14-4 victory over East Carolina Friday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Story continues below the following two pictures.

Jeff Hoffman delivers against UVa.
The sophomore right-hander took
the loss despite 7 strikeouts in 4
2/3 innings. (W.A. Myatt photo)

Senior Jay Cannon, wearing former ECU
coach Keith LeClair's legacy number  23,
strokes a 1st inning hit. (W.A. Myatt photo)

The Cavaliers lashed out 12 hits and benefitted from seven bases on balls and five hit batsmen in the season opener for both teams.

ECU countered with 8 hits, highlighted by an eighth inning homer by junior shortstop Jack Reinheimer.

Starter Jeff Hoffman took the loss for the Pirates. The sophomore right-hander fanned 7 in 4 2/3 innings, but gave way to the first of four relievers after surrendering four hits, issuing four bases on balls and hitting three batters. One of the hits was Towns' first inning slam, which produced the only runs given up by Hoffman.

Freshman righthander Josh Sborz got the win after going 2 1/3 inning in relief of UVa starter Brandon Waddell.

The teams will face off at 10 a.m. Saturday morning in game two of their three-game weekend set. Junior right-hander Ryan Williams, a transfer from West Valley (CA) College, is expected to get the start for ECU.

PAGE UPDATED 02/16/13 04:51 AM.

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