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May 19, 2005
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`HOOS UP NEXT?: The Virginia Cavaliers (35-17, 11-14 ACC) will host theDuke Blue Devils (14-35, 5-22 ACC) in a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series on May 19-21 at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Virginia and Duke are scheduled to play on Thursday, May 19th at 7:00 PM; Friday, May 20th at 7:00 PM and Saturday, May 21st at 1:00 PM. The series will conclude the 2005 regular season campaigns for both Virginia and Duke.
VIRGINIA’S CURRENT RECORD & RANKINGS: Virginia stands 35-17 overall, 11-14 in the ACC. UVa is not ranked in the polls (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, Sports Weekly/ESPN, NCBWA) but is receiving votes in the Sports Weekly/ESPN and the NCBWA Top-25 polls. Virginia was ranked as high as #27 by Collegiate Baseball and #32 by the NCBWA earlier this season.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Virginia dropped a 6-5 decision to Duke on May 26, 2004 in the ACC Tournament in Salem, Va. to snap UVa’s 10-game winning streak against Duke in the series history the last time the two teams met. However, the Cavaliers swept the Blue Devils three games to none (8-1, 6-5, 3-1) last season (2004) in the ACC regular season series in Durham, N.C. at Duke’s Jack Coombs Field. The last time Duke visited Charlottesville, Virginia swept the Blue Devils three games to none (13-1, 9-2, 6-0) on March 21-23, 2003 at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
THE VIRGINIA/DUKE ALL-TIME SERIES: Virginia leads the all-time series against Duke in baseball 76-48-1. The Cavaliers have had their way with the Blue Devils in recent years as UVa has won 13 of the last 15 regular season meetings dating back to 2000, including a stretch of 10 consecutive victories from 2001-2004. Here is a look at the recent series history between Virginia and Duke since the 2000 season:
Date Opponents Result Location5/26/04 Duke def. Virginia 6-5 Salem, Va.4/4/04 Virginia def. Duke 3-1 Durham, N.C.4/3/04 Virginia def. Duke 6-5 Durham, N.C.4/2/04 Virginia def. Duke 8-1 Durham, N.C.3/23/03 Virginia def. Duke 6-0 Charlottesville, Va.3/22/03 Virginia def. Duke 9-2 Charlottesville, Va.3/21/03 Virginia def. Duke 13-1 Charlottesville, Va.3/24/02 Virginia def. Duke 9-5 Durham, N.C.3/23/02 Virginia def. Duke 8-3 Durham, N.C.3/22/02 Virginia def. Duke 6-4 Durham, N.C.3/18/01 Virginia def. Duke 14-5 Charlottesville, Va.3/17/01 Duke def. Virginia 12-11 Charlottesville, Va.3/16/01 Virginia def. Duke 4-3 Charlottesville, Va.4/9/00 Duke def. Virginia 10-1 Durham, N.C.4/8/00 Virginia def. Duke 12-3 Durham, N.C.4/7/00 Virginia def. Duke 10-4 Durham, N.C.
PROBABLE PITCHING FOR CAVALIERS VS. DUKE: Virginia is expected to go with the trio of Jeff Kamrath (RHP, 7-4, 2.34 ERA, 80.2 IP, 63 K) on Thursday; Matt Avery (RHP, 4-5, 4.93 ERA, 65.2 IP, 59 K) on Friday and Mike Ballard (LHP, 8-3, 3.32 ERA, 81.1 IP, 47 K) on Saturday against Duke.
VIRGINIA SITTING IN SEVENTH IN ACC, CONTROLS OWN DESTINY FOR SEVENTH SEED IN ACC TOURNAMENT: Virginia enters its series with Duke in seventh place in the ACC standings with a record of 11-14 in the conference. The Cavaliers are looking to remain in the seventh spot and secure the seventh seed for the upcoming 2005 ACC Tournament and can do so by sweeping Duke. In the newly formatted 11-team ACC Tournament, seeds 8-11 will take part in a “mini-bracket” tournament on May 24th. One of the four squads seeded 8-11 must win two games on May 24th to advance to the “main bracket” where seeds 1-7 will begin the double-elimination portion of the tournament bracket. The three teams that lose a game on May 24 are eliminated from the tournament all together due to the single elimination format on day one. The winner of the two games between seeds 8-11 on May 24th will advance into the main portion of the tournament bracket and will face the #1 seed in what begins the double-elimination field. Here’s a look at the conference standings heading into the final weekend of ACC play:
Place Team ACC Record1. Georgia Tech 21-62. Miami 19-7-13t. Florida State 18-93t. Clemson 18-95. North Carolina 15-9-16. N.C. State 15-127. Virginia 11-148. Wake Forest 11-169. Maryland 7-2310. Virginia Tech 5-1811. Duke 5-22
BAT-MAN: Virginia’s Ryan Zimmerman has already etched his name into several Top-10 career statistical categories in Virginia’s record books, but he’s also on pace to break a single season record he set himself one year ago. Zimmerman holds UVa’s all-time single season record for most hits after posting 90 last season (2004). He currently has 81 hits in 2005 entering Virginia’s series with Duke and needs just nine hits to tie and 10 hits to break his own school record. Zimmerman also has 54 RBI this season and is closing in one UVa’s single season mark of 67.
VIRGINIA’S FIRST-YEAR PHENOMS: Virginia lost several key veteran plays from its 2004 squad last season, but some would argue with the influx of talent the Cavaliers received from its first-year class this season, UVa has hardly missed a beat. Virginia’s first-year class of has been highlighted by a trio of Freshman All-American candidates in Sean Doolittle, Pat McAnaney and Robert Poutier.
Doolittle came to UVa with hopes of eventually filling the shoes of last year’s ACC Player of the Year and All-American selection – Joe Koshansky. Doolittle and Koshansky are both left-handed first baseman/pitchers. Doolittle has been nothing short of terrific in his first-year campaign and is enjoying a tremendous season both at the plate and on the mound and is one of UVa’s top players in both areas. The Cavaliers also received a huge boost with the additions of pitcher Pat McAnaney and Robert Poutier to their staff. Not to be overshadowed in his own class, outfielder/designated hitter Brandon Guyer has also made a significant impact on the Cavaliers.
Together, this group of first-year players have bolster Virginia’s lineup and all four players are enjoying some of the finest seasons ever for a first-year player in UVa baseball history. Here is a closer look at the production of Doolittle, McAnaney, Poutier and Guyer heading into the Duke series:
Sean Doolittle - .310 BA, 58 H, 46 RBI, 42 R, 10 HR, 9 2B, 1 3B.Sean Doolittle - 0.96 ERA, 1-0, 37.1 IP, 53 K, .157 OBA.Pat McAnaney - 1.56 ERA, 7-0, 52.0 IP, 37 K, .225 OBA.Robert Poutier - 0.39 ERA, 5-1, 46.0 IP, 25 K, .185 OBA.Brandon Guyer - .287 BA, 48 H, 33 R, 27 RBI, 13 2B, 4 HR.
VIRGINIA JUST SIX GAMES OFF RECORD PACE FROM 2004 SEASON: Virginia’s record of 35-17 overall through 52 games this season is just six games behind the Cavaliers’ mark of 41-11 through 52 games last year during UVa’s record-tying season for most wins (44) in 2004.
30-WIN CLUB: Virginia recorded its 30th win this season on April 27, 2005 to become just the sixth UVa team to win at least 30 games or more in a single season. Virginia also posted 30 or more wins in 2004, 1997, 1996, 1988 and 1985.
SOMETHING ABOUT SUNDAYS & MIAMI: Virginia has won the last three Sunday contests it has played against the Miami Hurricanes. After the Cavaliers claimed a 17-2 victory on April 13, 2003 and 4-3 win on April 25, 2004, UVa defeated Miami again on a Sunday in 2005 following a 4-3 victory on May 15.
SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. – LAMBERT SAVING VIRGINIA IN RECORD FASHION: Virginia’s Casey Lambert, in just his second year as a Cavalier, established the new Virginia school record for most saves in a career with 19 when he posted his 11th save of the year in UVa’s 9-4 victory over William & Mary on April 27th. What’s more, Lambert’s 11th save this season is also a Virginia single season record for most saves in a season. Lambert broke the UVa single season record when he posted his ninth save following Virginia’s 4-2 victory over Georgia Tech on April 22nd. Lambert’s ninth save on April 22nd actually broke the former UVa single season saves record of eight – a record he tied himself one year ago as a first-year. Lambert currently has 21 career saves and 13 saves this season (2005) which are both school records.
O’CONNOR-METER: Virginia head baseball coach Brian O’Connor is in his second year as UVa’s head coach. His career coaching record at Virginia stands at 79-32 overall, 29-20 in the ACC. Last season (2004), O’Connor was named just the second Virginia baseball coach ever to be selected the ACC Coach of the Year. In his first season as head coach at UVa, O’Connor guided Virginia to a school-record tying mark of 44 single season wins and it its fourth NCAA Regional appearance – including its first ever NCAA Regional appearance as a host site.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!: UVa appeared on television for the fourth time this season when Virginia and Miami met on Saturday, May 14th at 7:00 PM on Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS). The Cavaliers appeared in three televised games earlier this season as well when UVa played N.C. State on April 9th and North Carolina on April 2nd on Fox Sports Net (FSN), and vs. Florida State on April 29th on Sun Sports TV.
SEBASEBALL.COM & COLLEGE BASEBALL INSIDER.COM TABS VIRGINIA THE TEAM OF THE WEEK: Virginia was named SEBaseball.com and CollegeBaseballInsider.com’s “Team of the Week” after UVa went 4-0 for the week, including a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series sweep over the #4 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on April 22-24. Virginia was also named the Team of the Week by CollegeBaseballInsider.com last season during UVa’s 2004 campaign.
`HOOS BY THE MONTH: Virginia won eight of its 11 games in the month of February (8-3), won 11 of 14 games in March (11-3) and won 11 of 19 games in April (11-8). The Cavaliers are 5-3 in the month of May. Here is a look at UVa’s record broken down by the month:
Month Virginia's RecordFebruary 8-3, 0-0 ACCMarch 11-3, 4-3 ACCApril 11-8, 5-8 ACCMay 5-3, 2-3 ACC
VIRGINIA VS. RANKED TEAMS: Virginia has played 15 games this season against teams ranked in the national polls (Baseball America Top-25, Collegiate Baseball Top-30, ESPN/Sports Weekly Top-25, NCBWA Top-35) and the Cavaliers are 6-9 against nationally ranked teams this season. Here is a closer look at those contests:
Date Ranked Opponent UVa Result4/1 @ #11 North Carolina L, 8-74/2 @ #11 North Carolina L, 10-54/3 @ #11 North Carolina L, 3-24/8 #33 N.C. State W, 2-04/9 #33 N.C. State L, 6-04/10 #33 N.C. State L, 1-04/22 #4 Georgia Tech W, 4-24/23 #4 Georgia Tech W, 9-24/24 #4 Georgia Tech W, 2-14/29 #24 Florida State L, 8-15/1 #24 Florida State W, 6-25/1 #24 Florida State L, 7-25/13 #4 Miami L, 7-65/14 #4 Miami L 1-05/15 #4 Miami W, 4-3
VIRGINIA IN WEEKEND SERIES ACTION: Virginia has played in 13 weekend series matchups in 2005 and is 7-6 in weekend series outcomes. All of UVa’s weekend series went three-games except Virginia’s series with Virginia Tech on March 25-27. The series was shortened to just one game on March 27th at Radford University after playing conditions at VT’s English Field forced the cancelations of two games of the series and moved the series to a neutral site location. Virginia stands 21-16 overall in weekend series contests this season. Here is a look at the Cavaliers’ results for weekend series games:
Date Virginia's Opponent Results2/11 @ UNC Wilmington L, 5-22/12 @ UNC Wilmington W, 2-02/13 @ UNC Wilmington W, 7-42/18 Bucknell W, 7-22/19 Bucknell (DH 1) W, 2-02/19 Bucknell (DH 2) W, 13-32/26 Fordham (DH 1) W, 5-02/26 Fordham (DH 2) W, 13-32/27 Fordham L, 3-23/4 @ Wake Forest L, 11-83/5 @ Wake Forest L, 15-83/6 @ Wake Forest L, 7-63/11 Marist W, 3-03/12 Marist W, 10-53/13 Marist W, 6-03/18 Maryland W, 4-13/19 Maryland W, 6-53/20 Maryland W, 5-23/27 vs. Virginia Tech W, 8-54/1 @ #11 North Carolina L , 8-7 (14)4/2 @ #11 North Carolina L, 10-54/3 @ #11 North Carolina L, 3-2 (11)4/8 #33 N.C. State W, 2-04/9 #33 N.C. State L, 6-04/10 #33 N.C. State L, 1-04/15 @ Clemson L, 13-44/16 @ Clemson L, 3-24/17 @ Clemson W, 9-24/22 #4 Georgia Tech W, 4-24/23 #4 Georgia Tech W, 9-24/24 #4 Georgia Tech W, 2-14/29 #24 Florida State L, 8-15/1 #24 Florida State W, 6-25/1 #24 Florida State L, 7-25/13 #4 Miami L, 7-65/14 #4 Miami L 1-05/15 #4 Miami W, 4-3
VIRGINIA BREAKS SCHOOL-RECORD FOR SHUTOUTS IN A SEASON IN JUST 19 GAMES: This year’s Virginia team has posted a school-record 11 shutouts so far this season. On March 13th with its 6-0 shutout win over Marist, Virginia posted its seventh shutout this year which set a new UVa school record for most shutouts in a single season after just 19 games! The former record for most shutouts in a single season at Virginia was six set by the 1996 squad. Also, included in the Cavaliers’ seven shutouts this season was a 5-0 victory over Fordham and an 8-0 win over Old Dominion on February 23rd in consecutive games which marked the first time Virginia shutout consecutive opponents since defeating Seton Hall 8-0 and 4-0 on March 2, 1996.
CLOSER LOOK AT VIRGINIA’S SHUTOUTS: Virginia is enjoying a record setting year for most shutouts in a single season. The Cavaliers have shutout a school-record 11 opponents this year and even more impressive, UVa posted a shutout in seven of its first 19 games this season. Here is a look at Virginia’s shutout wins this season:
Date Opponent Score2/12 @ UNC Wilmington W, 2-02/19 Bucknell W, 2-02/23 Old Dominion W, 8-02/26 Fordham W, 5-03/8 Longwood W, 8-03/11 Marist W, 3-03/13 Marist W, 6-04/8 N.C. State W, 2-04/13 Maryland-Eastern Shore W, 6-05/3 Richmond W, 11-05/16 North Carolina A&T W, 2-0
MCANANEY’S PERFECT ON THE MOUND: Virginia first-year LHP Pat McAnaney improved his record to a perfect 7-0 this season after picking up the win in UVa’s 2-0 victory over North Carolina A&T. McAnaney has been tremendous on the mound as a mid-week starter as the lefty has turned in a 1.56 ERA and has struck out 37 batters in 52.0 innings pitched.
SCORE ON POUTIER IF YOU CAN: Virginia’s first-year pitcher Robert Poutier have been very difficult for opponents to get a hit off of, and even harder to score a run off of. In fact, Poutier has tossed 46.0 innings and allowed just two earned runs on 30 hits while striking out 25 batters and has a 0.39 ERA.
VIRGINIA’S POWERFUL ONE-TWO NEWCOMER PUNCH: Virginia’s first-year duo of Sean Doolittle and Brandon Guyer have provided some immediate power to the Cavaliers’ lineup. Doolittle has hit a team-leading 10 home runs and Guyer has hit four home runs this season. The duo has hit 14 of UVa’s 32 home runs on the year.
CAVALIERS NOT BEATING THEMSELVES WITH ERRORS: Last season, much of the success Virginia enjoyed was due to not beating itself with costly errors. In 2004, UVa established a new single-season school record fielding percentage mark of .973 while committing just 62 errors to their opponents 105. Heading into its three-game series against Duke, Virginia’s opponents have committed 90 errors to just 49 for UVa.