LAKE MONTICELLO, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia Cavaliers opened their 2026 baseball season with a potent offensive display, overcoming an early deficit to defeat the Wagner Seahawks 13-7 on Friday afternoon at Davenport Field.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, saw the Cavaliers erase a four-run hole with a relentless attack that produced 14 hits. Wagner, opening its season, managed 10 hits but stranded opportunities and grounded into two double plays.

Virginia’s victory was anchored by a decisive eight-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth inning, which transformed a narrow 7-6 lead into a commanding advantage. The frame saw the Cavaliers send 13 batters to the plate. The inning was capped by a three-run homer from Harris, immediately followed by a solo shot from Jackson, that broke the game open.

Wagner had seized early control, plating seven runs in the first two innings against Virginia starter Zatkowski. The Seahawks scored four times in the second, highlighted by a two-run single from shortstop Nicholas Mazzotta and a two-run double from right fielder Evan McRae.

Virginia began chipping away in the first inning, scoring four runs, two of them unearned due to a pair of fielding errors by Wagner second baseman Matt Sutera. They added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to close the gap before the sixth-inning explosion.

Cavaliers reliever Colucci, who entered in the fourth inning, earned the win after providing stability. Hartman and Yoder followed with scoreless relief. Wagner starter Trizuto took the loss, unable to hold the early lead. The Seahawks used five pitchers, with the bullpen struggling to contain the Virginia lineup in the middle innings.

Offensively for Wagner, center fielder Lukas Torres and Mazzotta each collected two hits, with Mazzotta driving in two runs. Diego Tavarez added an RBI double. For Virginia, Harris led the charge with four RBIs, including the three-run homer, while Jackson drove in two runs with his homer and a single. Becker and Gracia each scored three times for the Cavaliers.

The game was the first of a scheduled doubleheader between the teams on Saturday, February 14, as part of the season-opening series. With the win, Virginia opens the season 1-0, while Wagner starts 0-1. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Virginia entered the contest with a 90.30 percent probability to win.