Virginia vs. Arkansas in Omaha, Neb., 3 p.m. Saturday ESPN
The Cavaliers have been amazing this postseason and are due more space than I am about to give them. Virginia swept Maryland with late-inning comebacks last Friday and Saturday to win the Charlottesville Super Regional and get to Omaha two years in a row and for the fourth time since 2009.
However, it is late at night and I am going to be away from the blog for the next few days and won't be back until either right before the team's first CWS game or sometime during it. So here is my preview of Arkansas, Virginia's first opponent, which it faces at 3 p.m. Saturday. If UVa wins, it faces the winner of Miami-Florida at 8 p.m. Monday. If it loses, it faces a must-win game against the Miami-Florida loser at 3 p.m. Monday. The other side of the bracket features LSU-TCU and Cal-State Fullerton-Vanderbilt.
No. 2 seed Arkansas
National seed: None (ranked No. 20 in the May 25 Baseball American Top 25 poll)
Record: 40-23, 17-12 SEC, 2-2 in SEC tournament, champions of Stillwater, Okla., and went 3-0, champions of super regional at 2-1 where it actually hosted higher seed Missouri State because MSU
did not bid for a super regional
Last 10: 7-3
Team batting average: .289
Batting average leaders: Andrew Benintendi (.380), Tyler Spoon (.331), and Rick Nomura (.294)
RBI leaders: Benintendi (55), Spoon (54), and Joe Serrano (35)
HR leaders: Benintendi (19), Spoon (6), and Bobby Wernes (5)
SB leaders: Benintendi (23), Spoon (9), and Serrano (6)
Team ERA: 4.08
Top starters: Keaton McKinney (6-2, 3.27), Dominic Taccolini (6-4, 4.32), and Trey Killian (3-4, 4.74)
Note: Virginia has quite the recent history with the Razorbacks. Last year, Virginia beat Arkansas in two Charlottesville Regional games, 3-0, and 9-2. In 2009, UVa's first CWS appearance, the Hogs eliminated the Cavaliers, 3-2, in 12 innings.
No. 3 seed Virginia
National seed: None
Record: 39-22, 15-15 ACC, 1-3 in ACC tournament, 3-0 in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Regional, and 3-0 in Charlottesville Super Regional
Last 10: 7-3
Team batting average: .273
Batting average leaders: Matt Thaiss (.332), Pavin Smith (.313), and Robbie Coman (.301)
RBI leaders: Thaiss (60), Kenny Towns (60), and Pavin Smith (41)
HR leaders: Thaiss (9), Smith (6), and Daniel Pinero (6)
SB leaders: Pinero (6), Adam Haseley (5), and Thaiss (4), Thomas Woodruff (4), and Christian Lowry (4)
Team ERA: 3.52
Starters: Connor Jones (7-2, 2.96) and Brandon Waddell (3-5, 4.15); again, it is unclear who would start a third game in five days, which UVa could face if it plays June 17. A third starter would definitely be needed if UVa gets to the championship series and it goes all three games like it did last year. Nathan Kirby is expected to be used at Omaha but how much is unclear.
The Cavaliers have been amazing this postseason and are due more space than I am about to give them. Virginia swept Maryland with late-inning comebacks last Friday and Saturday to win the Charlottesville Super Regional and get to Omaha two years in a row and for the fourth time since 2009.
However, it is late at night and I am going to be away from the blog for the next few days and won't be back until either right before the team's first CWS game or sometime during it. So here is my preview of Arkansas, Virginia's first opponent, which it faces at 3 p.m. Saturday. If UVa wins, it faces the winner of Miami-Florida at 8 p.m. Monday. If it loses, it faces a must-win game against the Miami-Florida loser at 3 p.m. Monday. The other side of the bracket features LSU-TCU and Cal-State Fullerton-Vanderbilt.
No. 2 seed Arkansas
National seed: None (ranked No. 20 in the May 25 Baseball American Top 25 poll)
Record: 40-23, 17-12 SEC, 2-2 in SEC tournament, champions of Stillwater, Okla., and went 3-0, champions of super regional at 2-1 where it actually hosted higher seed Missouri State because MSU
Last 10: 7-3
Team batting average: .289
Batting average leaders: Andrew Benintendi (.380), Tyler Spoon (.331), and Rick Nomura (.294)
RBI leaders: Benintendi (55), Spoon (54), and Joe Serrano (35)
HR leaders: Benintendi (19), Spoon (6), and Bobby Wernes (5)
SB leaders: Benintendi (23), Spoon (9), and Serrano (6)
Team ERA: 4.08
Top starters: Keaton McKinney (6-2, 3.27), Dominic Taccolini (6-4, 4.32), and Trey Killian (3-4, 4.74)
Note: Virginia has quite the recent history with the Razorbacks. Last year, Virginia beat Arkansas in two Charlottesville Regional games, 3-0, and 9-2. In 2009, UVa's first CWS appearance, the Hogs eliminated the Cavaliers, 3-2, in 12 innings.
No. 3 seed Virginia
National seed: None
Record: 39-22, 15-15 ACC, 1-3 in ACC tournament, 3-0 in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Regional, and 3-0 in Charlottesville Super Regional
Last 10: 7-3
Team batting average: .273Batting average leaders: Matt Thaiss (.332), Pavin Smith (.313), and Robbie Coman (.301)
RBI leaders: Thaiss (60), Kenny Towns (60), and Pavin Smith (41)
HR leaders: Thaiss (9), Smith (6), and Daniel Pinero (6)
SB leaders: Pinero (6), Adam Haseley (5), and Thaiss (4), Thomas Woodruff (4), and Christian Lowry (4)
Team ERA: 3.52
Starters: Connor Jones (7-2, 2.96) and Brandon Waddell (3-5, 4.15); again, it is unclear who would start a third game in five days, which UVa could face if it plays June 17. A third starter would definitely be needed if UVa gets to the championship series and it goes all three games like it did last year. Nathan Kirby is expected to be used at Omaha but how much is unclear.
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