Freshman pitcher John Paone delivered a career-defining performance on Saturday, striking out nine batters as No. 23 Virginia edged Cal 2-1 at Disharoon Park. The win evened the weekend series and pushed the Cavaliers to 33-17 overall (13-13 in ACC play), while the Golden Bears dropped to 26-24 (9-17 in conference action).

Paone turned in the longest outing by any Virginia pitcher this season, working 7.2 innings while allowing just one run. His nine strikeouts marked a season high and were the most by a Cavaliers freshman since Tomas Valincius fanned 10 against Rice on Feb. 16, 2025. Tyler Kapa earned the win in relief, improving to 2-0 on the year.

Cal struck first in the second inning when Carl Schmidt launched a solo home run—the Bears’ only run of the game. Paone quickly settled in, surrendering just one more hit the rest of his outing and striking out the side in the sixth inning.

Virginia’s offense was quiet early against Cal starter Gavin Eddy, who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Antonio Perrotta broke it up with a single up the middle. Perrotta finished 2-for-2 with a double to lead the Cavaliers, while Joe Tiroly added a hit.

The Cavaliers tied the game in the seventh inning. Kyle Johnson drew a one-out walk, moved to third on Perrotta’s double, and scored on a dropped third strike that got past the Cal catcher. Virginia pushed ahead in the eighth after Harrison Didawick walked and advanced to third on a Cal error, then scored on Jake Weatherspoon’s fielder’s choice.

Kapa closed out the game despite a late threat, as the Bears put two runners on base in the ninth before Virginia recorded the final out on a ground ball to third. The win keeps Virginia in the thick of the ACC race as they look to build momentum down the stretch.