Virginia vs. Vanderbilt, 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (if necessary), ESPN
Virginia vanquished Mississippi, 4-1, Saturday afternoon in the College World Series to move into the CWS best-of-three finals series against Vanderbilt, which beat Texas, 4-3 in 10 innings, Saturday night to clinch its spot.
The Cavaliers and Rebels began play Friday but only got through one inning before storms hit the Omaha, Neb., area. UVa had runners on first and second with no outs when the game was suspended. That's the way the game picked up Saturday but Mississippi was able to retool its pitching, use the bullpen, and thus
get out of the inning giving up no runs while actually scoring one on its own to go up 1-0. At that point, I was angry because I thought it was very unlucky the situation UVa got into with the weather causing the suspension, which took away momentum from the Cavaliers.
But it didn't end up mattering because UVa scored three runs in the fourth to take the lead and tacked on another run in the seventh to come up with the winning margin. Robbie Coman had two RBI and Branden Cogswell and Joe McCarthy recorded an RBI each for the Cavaliers. Josh Sborz pitched five innings (four Saturday) to pick up the win and gave up four hits and struck out four. Artie Lewicki pitched three innings of relief and Nick Howard closed the game in the ninth.
Now, here is some more on the Commodores, the Cavaliers' opponent:
Seed: Vanderbilt was the No. 1 seed in the Nashville Regional and was not a top eight national seed but was good enough to end up hosting a super regional, meaning it wasn't too far outside the top eight.
Record: 49-20, 17-13 SEC; went 1-2 in the SEC tournament
2014 CWS results: 3-1; beat Louisville, 5-3; beat UC Irvine, 6-4; lost to Texas, 4-0; beat Texas, 4-3, in 10 innings
Last 10 games: 8-2
Team batting average: .281
Batting average leaders: Bryan Reynolds (.341), Dansby Swanson (.337), and Vince Conde (.294)
RBI leaders: Reynolds (53), Conde (48), and Zander Wiel (43)
HR leaders: Wiel (5), Reynolds and Conde (4)
SB leaders: Swanson (20), Xavier Turner (18, though he is suspended), John Norwood (16), and Conde (15)
Team ERA: 2.79
Opponents' batting average: .207
Expected starting rotation: Monday, Walker Buehler (12-2, 2.27), Tuesday, Tyler Beede (8-7. 3.80), Wednesday, Carson Fullmer (7-1, 2.00) or Tyler Ferguson (8-4, 2.72)
And, here's a refresher on the Wahoos:
Seed: Virginia was the No. 1 seed in the Charlottesville Regional and was the No. 3 national seed.
Record: 52-14, 22-8 ACC; went 1-2 in ACC tournament
2014 CWS results: 3-0 (beat Mississippi, 2-1; beat TCU, 3-2 in 15 innings; beat Mississippi, 4-1)
Last 10 games: 8-2
Team batting average: .279
Batting average leaders: John La Prise (.359), Mike Papi (.312), and Branden Cogswell and Joe McCarthy (.297)
RBI leaders: Papi (56), McCarthy (48), and Brandon Downes (37)
HR leaders: Papi (11), Downes (7), and McCarthy (6)
SB leaders: McCarthy (11) and Downes and Daniel Pinero (9)
Team ERA: 2.21
Opponents' batting average: .201
Expected starting rotation: Monday, Nathan Kirby (9-2, 1.70), Tuesday, Brandon Waddell (9-3, 2.57), Wednesday, Josh Sborz (6-4, 2.84)
Two schools with similar academic profiles and rises to the top of college baseball clash tonight on the sport's biggest game in Game 1 of the College World Series. Coach Tim Corbin has been in Nashville since 2002 and in those 12 years, the Commodores have made the NCAA tournament 10 times. Virginia has yet to miss the postseason in 11 seasons under Brian O'Connor. Before both coaches arrived at their respective schools, baseball success was hard to find at either location. Virginia went to the NCAA tournament just three times before O'Connor arrived in town, and had not since 1996. Vanderbilt had been to just three as well before Corbin arrived, and none since 1980. Slowly but surely, though, both teams climbed the ranks of college baseball. Since 2004, they have made the World Series a combined five times. And now get to fight it out for the ultimate prize.
One key point for the series is that Vanderbilt has used its bullpen more and played one more game, taxing its pitching staff more. Two of the Commodores' relievers, Brian Miller and Hayden Stone, probably wouldn't be available until Wednesday. Virginia, on the other hand, has played just three games and has sparingly used its bullpen. Whit Mayberry, Artie Lewicki, and Nick Howard are all good to go. The Cavs' relievers have all been extremely effective recently, not allowing a run in 14 innings in Omaha and holding just a 0.90 ERA in the NCAA tournament.
Offensively, Vanderbilt has been the best hitting team in Omaha with a .259 average and 3.75 runs per game Virginia has been second at .239 and three runs per game. Over the year, both ranked in the top 100 in offensive categories with Vandy slightly better but neither were awesome hitting teams. The Commodores' No. 3 and 4 hitters, Conde (.154) and Wiel (.214), have struggled in Omaha, but Norwood (.333) and Rhett Wiseman (.429) have stepped up their games. Tyler Campbell has done a nice job filling in for the suspended Turner, going 3 for 8 in the past two games.
It should be a fantastic series and could certainly go all three games. I feel good about the way Virginia's pitching has set up and I don't think Vanderbilt being a slightly better offensive team than Virginia is significant enough to make a huge difference. If anything, it could be negated by the fact that Vanderbilt's pitching is a little overworked right now and that could mean the Cavaliers could get their hitting going a little bit. Plus, Virginia's hitting has been getting better and better in Omaha, as it has scored two runs, then three, then four. Certainly, if that trend continues and the pitching remains as solid as it has been, there is no reason UVa can't bring a national championship back to the Grounds in Charlottesville.
Finally, I wanted to share with you my Daily Progress sports front page design for today. And if you want to read the story by Andrew Ramspacher on Brian O'Connor, copy and paste this link into your browser: http://www.dailyprogress.com/cavalierinsider/local-hero-o-connor-hopes-to-leave-hometown-area-with/article_71637f2a-fa79-11e3-961f-001a4bcf6878.html
Virginia vanquished Mississippi, 4-1, Saturday afternoon in the College World Series to move into the CWS best-of-three finals series against Vanderbilt, which beat Texas, 4-3 in 10 innings, Saturday night to clinch its spot.
The Cavaliers and Rebels began play Friday but only got through one inning before storms hit the Omaha, Neb., area. UVa had runners on first and second with no outs when the game was suspended. That's the way the game picked up Saturday but Mississippi was able to retool its pitching, use the bullpen, and thus
get out of the inning giving up no runs while actually scoring one on its own to go up 1-0. At that point, I was angry because I thought it was very unlucky the situation UVa got into with the weather causing the suspension, which took away momentum from the Cavaliers.But it didn't end up mattering because UVa scored three runs in the fourth to take the lead and tacked on another run in the seventh to come up with the winning margin. Robbie Coman had two RBI and Branden Cogswell and Joe McCarthy recorded an RBI each for the Cavaliers. Josh Sborz pitched five innings (four Saturday) to pick up the win and gave up four hits and struck out four. Artie Lewicki pitched three innings of relief and Nick Howard closed the game in the ninth.
Now, here is some more on the Commodores, the Cavaliers' opponent:
Seed: Vanderbilt was the No. 1 seed in the Nashville Regional and was not a top eight national seed but was good enough to end up hosting a super regional, meaning it wasn't too far outside the top eight.
Record: 49-20, 17-13 SEC; went 1-2 in the SEC tournament
2014 CWS results: 3-1; beat Louisville, 5-3; beat UC Irvine, 6-4; lost to Texas, 4-0; beat Texas, 4-3, in 10 inningsLast 10 games: 8-2
Team batting average: .281
Batting average leaders: Bryan Reynolds (.341), Dansby Swanson (.337), and Vince Conde (.294)
RBI leaders: Reynolds (53), Conde (48), and Zander Wiel (43)
HR leaders: Wiel (5), Reynolds and Conde (4)
SB leaders: Swanson (20), Xavier Turner (18, though he is suspended), John Norwood (16), and Conde (15)
Team ERA: 2.79
Opponents' batting average: .207
Expected starting rotation: Monday, Walker Buehler (12-2, 2.27), Tuesday, Tyler Beede (8-7. 3.80), Wednesday, Carson Fullmer (7-1, 2.00) or Tyler Ferguson (8-4, 2.72)
And, here's a refresher on the Wahoos:
Seed: Virginia was the No. 1 seed in the Charlottesville Regional and was the No. 3 national seed.
Record: 52-14, 22-8 ACC; went 1-2 in ACC tournament
2014 CWS results: 3-0 (beat Mississippi, 2-1; beat TCU, 3-2 in 15 innings; beat Mississippi, 4-1)
Last 10 games: 8-2
Team batting average: .279Batting average leaders: John La Prise (.359), Mike Papi (.312), and Branden Cogswell and Joe McCarthy (.297)
RBI leaders: Papi (56), McCarthy (48), and Brandon Downes (37)
HR leaders: Papi (11), Downes (7), and McCarthy (6)
SB leaders: McCarthy (11) and Downes and Daniel Pinero (9)
Team ERA: 2.21
Opponents' batting average: .201
Expected starting rotation: Monday, Nathan Kirby (9-2, 1.70), Tuesday, Brandon Waddell (9-3, 2.57), Wednesday, Josh Sborz (6-4, 2.84)
Two schools with similar academic profiles and rises to the top of college baseball clash tonight on the sport's biggest game in Game 1 of the College World Series. Coach Tim Corbin has been in Nashville since 2002 and in those 12 years, the Commodores have made the NCAA tournament 10 times. Virginia has yet to miss the postseason in 11 seasons under Brian O'Connor. Before both coaches arrived at their respective schools, baseball success was hard to find at either location. Virginia went to the NCAA tournament just three times before O'Connor arrived in town, and had not since 1996. Vanderbilt had been to just three as well before Corbin arrived, and none since 1980. Slowly but surely, though, both teams climbed the ranks of college baseball. Since 2004, they have made the World Series a combined five times. And now get to fight it out for the ultimate prize.
One key point for the series is that Vanderbilt has used its bullpen more and played one more game, taxing its pitching staff more. Two of the Commodores' relievers, Brian Miller and Hayden Stone, probably wouldn't be available until Wednesday. Virginia, on the other hand, has played just three games and has sparingly used its bullpen. Whit Mayberry, Artie Lewicki, and Nick Howard are all good to go. The Cavs' relievers have all been extremely effective recently, not allowing a run in 14 innings in Omaha and holding just a 0.90 ERA in the NCAA tournament.
Offensively, Vanderbilt has been the best hitting team in Omaha with a .259 average and 3.75 runs per game Virginia has been second at .239 and three runs per game. Over the year, both ranked in the top 100 in offensive categories with Vandy slightly better but neither were awesome hitting teams. The Commodores' No. 3 and 4 hitters, Conde (.154) and Wiel (.214), have struggled in Omaha, but Norwood (.333) and Rhett Wiseman (.429) have stepped up their games. Tyler Campbell has done a nice job filling in for the suspended Turner, going 3 for 8 in the past two games.
It should be a fantastic series and could certainly go all three games. I feel good about the way Virginia's pitching has set up and I don't think Vanderbilt being a slightly better offensive team than Virginia is significant enough to make a huge difference. If anything, it could be negated by the fact that Vanderbilt's pitching is a little overworked right now and that could mean the Cavaliers could get their hitting going a little bit. Plus, Virginia's hitting has been getting better and better in Omaha, as it has scored two runs, then three, then four. Certainly, if that trend continues and the pitching remains as solid as it has been, there is no reason UVa can't bring a national championship back to the Grounds in Charlottesville.
Finally, I wanted to share with you my Daily Progress sports front page design for today. And if you want to read the story by Andrew Ramspacher on Brian O'Connor, copy and paste this link into your browser: http://www.dailyprogress.com/cavalierinsider/local-hero-o-connor-hopes-to-leave-hometown-area-with/article_71637f2a-fa79-11e3-961f-001a4bcf6878.html
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