ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996                   TAG: 9605200120
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C-5  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C.
SOURCE: Associated Press

BRANSFORD CLEANS UP NO. 4 HITTER SLUGS 2 HRS AS UVA EXCUSES GA. TECH

Pat Bransford is Virginia's cleanup hitter pretty much by default.

The Cavaliers don't have much power. UVa finished eighth in the nine-team ACC in homers during the regular season, with 46.

But Bransford, who had one homer entering postseason play, hit a pair of two-run shots Saturday from the No.4 spot as the Cavaliers moved a step closer to winning the school's first ACC baseball tournament title with an 8-4 victory over Georgia Tech.

``I've been waiting for this day all my life,'' Bransford said.

Coach Dennis Womack asked several Virginia players to hit No.4 early in the year, but none seemed anxious to take on the pressure spot in the lineup.

``I'm not sure we've got a cleanup hitter,'' Womack said. ``Pat has a mentality [to hit No.4], he just doesn't have the power or the numbers.''

UVa (4-0) remained the only undefeated team in the tournament and eliminated Georgia Tech. The Cavs earned the chance to win their first crown with a victory Saturday night or today against Florida State, which eliminated Clemson 2-1 on Saturday.

In addition to Bransford's four-RBI day, Craig Zaikov (7-1) delivered another solid performance for the Cavaliers (40-18). The pitcher overcame 92-degree heat to hold the Yellow Jackets to two earned runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Andy Lee made Virginia's first relief appearance in the double-elimination event at Durham Bulls Athletic Park a success.

Georgia Tech, which had rallied for victories over North Carolina and N.C. State the previous two days, had scored three runs in the eighth off Zaikov and had a runner on first with one out when Lee was summoned. The left-hander struck out pinch-hitter Heath Honeycutt and got Jay Hood on a groundout to end the threat.

LENGTH: Short :   46 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. Pat Bransford (center) is congratulated by his 
          Virginia teammates after hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning
          against Georgia Tech.