DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — The top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers unleashed a historic offensive barrage Friday evening, pounding out 23 hits and routing the Monmouth Hawks 21-8 at Edmunds Center.

Virginia improved to 5-0, while Monmouth fell to 1-3.

The Cavaliers wasted no time, scoring five runs in a relentless first inning. AJ Gracia set the tone with a leadoff home run to deep left field. Sam Harris followed with a double, and after a Henry Tiroly single, Noah Murray delivered a two-run double to cap the early outburst.

Monmouth scratched back with three runs in the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of Virginia errors and RBI singles from Hunt and Walsh to cut the deficit to 5-3. They added another run in the third on an RBI single from Saucke, making it 5-4.

Virginia’s power hitters, however, ensured the Hawks would get no closer. Gracia launched his second homer of the game in the second inning. Then, in the fourth, Harris blasted a two-run shot, scoring Gracia who had singled. In the sixth, Gracia and Harris went back-to-back again, with Gracia completing a three-homer night and Harris adding his second of the game, pushing the lead to 9-4.

The most important part of the game came in the top of the eighth inning. Leading 9-8 after Monmouth plated four unearned runs in a messy seventh, Virginia sent 16 batters to the plate and exploded for 12 runs to put the game completely out of reach. The inning featured seven hits, three walks, three wild pitches and two hit batters. Murray provided the crushing blow, a three-run homer to deep left field that ignited the rally. Antonio Perrotta, pinch-hitting earlier, added a two-run double later in the frame as the Cavaliers batted around.

Murray, named the top star for Virginia, finished 3-for-6 with two home runs and six RBIs. Harris was 4-for-6 with two homers and five RBIs. Gracia’s three-homer night resulted in a 4-for-5 line with three RBIs. Harrison Didawick also had four hits for Virginia.

On the mound, Virginia starter Henry Zatkowski went four innings, allowing four runs, only one earned, on three hits with three strikeouts. The Cavaliers used six relievers, with Kevin Jaxel, Christian Lucarelli, Tyler Kapa and Jayden Stroman combining for 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief. Stroman struck out the side in the eighth.

Monmouth managed nine hits, with Saucke, Hunt and Walsh each driving in a run. Hawks starter Mealy took the loss.

Virginia continues its weekend in Florida against Stetson on Saturday. Monmouth faces a doubleheader Saturday, playing both Stetson and North Dakota State in DeLand.