CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – A year ago, Chris Pollard coached Duke to the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament. Wednesday, he guided his new team, Virginia, to a spot in that round. And he did it with a 6-4 win over his former school.
Catcher Jake Weatherspoon went 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored, and starting pitcher Henry Zatkowski held the Blue Devils to just two runs over six innings as UVA advanced to face top-seeded Georgia Tech at 11 a.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals in Charlotte, N.C.
Virginia did not face Duke – where Pollard coached from 2013-2025 – during the regular season.
Wednesday, the Cavaliers used a four-run sixth inning to surge ahead in what was a low-scoring pitcher’s duel early.
Duke got off to an early lead in the top of the first inning after an RJ Hamilton double led to an RBI groundout from Kaden Smith. Virginia would respond, however, with a Sam Harris RBI single to even the game at 1 after the first inning. The Blue Devils struck next after Hamilton’s second double led to an RBI triple from Duke catcher Matthew Strand in the top of the fourth.
The Cavalier bats finally got going in the bottom of the sixth inning. AJ Gracia set the table with a leadoff double followed by a walk to Sam Harris setting up a game-tying RBI single from Harrison Didawick. Weatherspoon followed with another single to score Harris to give the ‘Hoos their first lead at 3-2. Zach Jackson added to the tally with triple two batters later to score two more as Virginia took a 5-2 lead after the sixth.
Weatherspoon added on another run for Virginia with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it 6-2. Duke would score two more runs courtesy of a Tyler Albright two-run home run in the top of the ninth before the Cavaliers closed out the victory.
Zatkowski earned the win starting on the mound for Virginia producing a quality start surrendering only two earned runs in 6 innings. Aiden Weaver started on the mound for the Blue Devils going 5.1 innings allowing three earned runs on three hits. Virginia reliever Lucas Hartman picked up his first save of the season getting the final two outs in the ninth.
The Cavalier defense also prevented two runs from scoring with plays at the plate. Jackson threw out Strand attempting to score from third on a would-be sacrifice fly to right field in the top of the 4th inning, and a relay from left field started by Didawick cut another runner down at the plate in the sixth.
