Senior pitcher Eli Trop pitches against UVA on May 31.
Credit: Weining DingCHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Hoos on top? Virginia.
After defeating No. 1 ranked Auburn in a surprise upset in the first round of last year's NCAA Regionals — Penn failed to recapture the magic as Virginia would out-bat the Quakers in a close 4-2 defeat. Penn batters would go down 1-2-3 in six out of their nine total innings, while Virginia (41-15, 18-12 Atlantic) got walked six more times than the Quakers (24-24, 11-10 Ivy).
Junior pitcher Ryan Dromboski embraces teammate Nate Polo before a game against UVA on May 31.
“I thought we had a good week of preparation leading up to this,” coach John Yurkow said. “I thought we were ready to play; we followed the same path as last year, maybe just a little passive early on.”
As the southern sun stood directly overhead, two battle-tested aces were set to take their places on top the hill. On one side, the Cavaliers sent out their sharpest ace — graduate right-handed pitcher Joe Savino, who recently returned from injury on April 2. Standing opposed to the NCAA veteran was Penn’s own senior right-handed pitcher Cole Zaffiro, the Quaker’s best performer on the mound this season.
With both men fighting to enter the winners bracket in what could be their final seasons with their respective teams, the pressure was on to perform. Neither one planning to shy away from the battle, both pitchers set the tone for the match by setting down their first three batters. With the game set as a pitchers duel, it was Zaffiro who cracked first under Virginia’s onslaught of batters.
Senior pitcher Cole Zaffiro pitches the ball against UVA on May 31.
To start, Virginia infielder Henry Ford drove a single over to right field which was followed by Virginia outfielder Harrison Didawick working his way to an eighth-pitch walk. To cap off the unfortunate start to the inning, Virginia infielder Henry Godbout caught the right end of a Zaffiro fastball to launch a three-run home run towards the Virginia faithful sitting behind right field. As Zaffiro neared the bottom of the lineup, he found no relief, as Virginia boasts a terrifying murderers’ row of batters. All nine players, coming into the game, had batting averages over .300 and on base percentages over .400.
“I mean up and down the lineup, they are all hitting over .300 [batting average] — a lot of them,” Zaffiro said. “You know, it’s tough, but, you know, [I’m] just making my pitches, executing.”
Into the third, Zaffiro and Savino only needed to see three batters each to end the inning — but the fourth inning finally saw pressure crack down on Savino. Junior infielder Connor Chavez, the hero of game one of the Ivy league Tournament final, smacked a single to right field to start the inning. Sophomore infielder Davis Baker followed suit with a looping double hit strongly to left field, scoring Chavez for the Quakers’ first point of the game. Not wanting to be left out of the fun, freshman infielder Nick Spaventa would single to center field to help Baker home — leaving the Red and Blue only down one and the inning ending with a fielder’s choice.
“I think the second time around we were able to become more aggressive in our swings,” Baker said. “It let us be more successful.”
Sophomore infielder Davis Baker walks off after an inning against UVA on May 31.
With the sun only growing hotter and the tension rising in the air, Penn found its bats held down by the mounting pressure. Savino and his subsequent replacement, right-handed pitcher Chase Hungate, would only allow one walk through until the seventh inning.
With no run support in sight and the world on his shoulders, Zaffiro would go through a grueling three inning stretch. Facing a lineup that scored at will against the best of the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Penn’s own Ironman bent — but never broke. Allowing seven base runners — but no runs — through three innings, Zaffiro ended his day in the sixth with three straight outs after allowing two base runners.
The seventh saw senior right-handed pitcher Eli Trop take over for the weary Zaffiro — but Trop was unable to capture the same fortitude as his teammate. Virginia would quickly score off of a double by catcher/utility player Ethan Anderson to raise their lead to two. In the top of the eighth, Penn would once again fail to respond as Hungate threw daggers to cut down two batters, including senior third baseman Wyatt Henseler, to end Penn's half of the inning. Henseler struggled greatly in this matchup, going 0-4 with three strikeouts.
Sophomore infielder Davis Baker slides back to base in a game against UVA on May 31.
Entering the bottom of the eighth, Trop would walk two in the first moments, digging himself into a dangerous position. An ensuing bunt by Virginia outfielder Bobby Whalen would advance the runners to second and third, leaving the top of the lineup ready to clean the bases with only one out. Trop would secure another out off a foul pop fly, but a grounder to first would put the Quakers in jeopardy. The ball got past Spaventa and rolled into the glove of Chavez, Trop raced to first to beat out the runner — securing the out with a toe on the bag and his body diving to catch the inning-ending pass.
These heroics would all lead to the top of the ninth, the last chance for the Red and Blue to pull out a victory, but no such luck would come the Quakers’ way, as a final 1-2-3 inning would end their chances of staying in the winners’ bracket.
“We were in a similar situation [in the Ivy League Tournament], getting out of the losers’ bracket,” Zaffiro said. “Tomorrow … we gotta go out there and play better baseball.”
The Quakers will play again Saturday at 12 p.m. vs. the loser of Mississippi State vs. St. John’s to see if they can keep their hopes of NCAA success alive. Another loss, and Penn’s underdog 2023-24 campaign comes to an end.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate
