Virginia Baseball Opens Season at Springmaid Beach Resort Tournament
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Feb. 9, 2006
Game #1-3
Feb. 10-12, 2006
Springmaid Beach Resort Tournament
Game 1: Virginia (0-0) vs. The Citadel (0-0), 12 p.m.
LHP Mike Ballard (UVa) vs. LHP Ryan Owens (The Citadel)
Game 2: Virginia at Coastal Carolina (0-0), 3:30 p.m.
RHP Jacob Thompson (UVa) vs. LHP Andy DeLaGarza (Coastal)
Game 3: Virginia at Coastal Carolina (0-0), 1 p.m.
TBD (UVa) vs. RHP Kevin Salmon (Coastal)
Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field
Conway, S.C.
Gametracker Game 1
Gametracker Game 2
Gametracker Game 3
Complete Release in PDF Format
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Coastal Carolina will broadcast Saturday’s and Sunday’s contests via the internet at www.goccusports.com
VIRGINIA OPENS SEASON AT SPRINGMAID BEACH RESORT TOURNAMENT
Virginia opens up the 2006 campaign when the Cavaliers take part in the Springmaid Beach Resort Tournament hosted by Coastal Carolina. The Cavaliers will face The Citadel in the tournament opener, before playing Coastal Carolina Saturday and Sunday. UVa will not face the fourth team in the tourney, Campbell.
CAVALIERS IN SEASON OPENERS UNDER O’CONNOR
Virginia is 1-1 in season openers under Brian O’Connor. The Cavaliers defeated North Carolina A&T, 10-7, in O’Connor’s first game as the coach at Virginia. Last season, UVa fell to UNC Wilmington, 5-2. Dating back to 1960, Virginia is 28-17-1 in season openers.
SCOUTING THE CITADEL
The Bulldogs posted a 25-34 record in 2005 and return three of their top offensive weapons in outfielders Chance Smith, Chris Swauger and shortstop Matt Matulia in 2006. Smith hit .400 with 36 hits in 38 games for the Bulldogs last season. Swauger played in 59 games and hit .316 with a team-high 16 doubles. He ranked second on the team in home runs (6), RBI (42) and third in hits (7) for a team that hit .297 last season. Matulia, a senior, hit .301 with a team-best 10 home runs and 47 RBI last season. On the mound, the Bulldogs return Preseason All-Southern Conference selections senior left-hander Ryan Owens and junior right-hander Link Saunders. Owens went 6-6 with a 5.46 ERA including 73 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched. Saunders also was 6-6 with a 3.15 ERA in 30 appearances. Saunders also added four saves while striking out 50 batters.
SERIES VS. THE CITADEL
Virginia leads the all-time series with The Citadel, 3-0. The Cavaliers and Bulldogs last met during the 2002 season when UVa defeated the Bulldogs, 5-4. Virginia won the 1999 meeting, 5-1, and the Cavaliers won in 1979, 5-4.
SCOUTING COASTAL CAROLINAThe Chanticleers are coming off a 2005 season, which saw them earn a No. 1 seed at the NCAA Tempe Regional. Coastal finished 2005, 50-16. The Chanticleers return three of their top hitters from a year ago in center fielder Dom Duggan, Tommy Baldridge and Aaron Verrett. Duggan hit .348 with four home runs and 27 RBI while Baldridge hit .356 with two homers and 22 RBI while playing in 43 games. Verrett drove in 34 runs and had four homers while batting .264. Duggan and Verrett earned preseason honors from SEBaseball.com. On the mound, Coastal returns one of its top starters in left-hander Andy DeLaGarza. DeLaGarza started 14 of 18 games for the Chanticleers last season and posted a 5-4 mark with a 4.45 ERA.He had 50 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched.
SERIES VS. COASTAL CAROLINA
Virginia and Coastal Carolina have only met once on the diamond. The Chanticleers defeated the Cavaliers, 4-3, in 1979.