GREENSBORO, N.C. – Derek Fisher’s RBI single in the top of the eighth inning brought home Joe McCarthy for what proved to be the winning run as Virginia edged North Carolina (33-25) 3-2 on Friday night at New Bridge Bank Park. The Cavaliers improved to 44-12 on the season, snapping their first two-game losing streak of the spring.

Virginia starter Brandon Waddell (no decision) allowed six hits, gave up two walks, and seemed to have runners on base in virtually all five innings he worked. But the southpaw did not allow a run and stuck out seven, giving way to Whit Mayberry in the sixth. Mayberry (6-1) gained the win, tossing 2.2 innings in relief, giving up two runs and striking out three. Nick Howard faced six batters in an inning-and-a-third to earn his 18th save.

Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said that while he would not call Friday night’s performance one of Waddell’s best, his sophomore lefty battled and kept his team in the game – departing with a 2-0 lead.

“He really buckled down and made big pitches and some big strikeouts with that slider in on those lefties and righties and bouncing it on them,” O’Connor said. “I felt after five innings he had been threatened in every inning, whether it be he had two walks, a hit batter, he gave up six hits, you know, North Carolina did a really good job with him, but the kid all year long has made big pitches when he needs to do so.”

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