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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia baseball team returns home to Davenport Field for two games this week, as the Cavaliers play host to Radford Tuesday and Navy Wednesday. First pitch for both games is 4 p.m.
Fans should note that because of the cancellation of the Van Halen concert, baseball parking now will be available in the University Hall and JPJA parking lots on Tuesday as opposed to the Emmet/Ivy Garage. On Wednesday, parking will only remain available in the University Hall parking lot because of the Kid Rock concert at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Cavaliers, ranked No. 16 nationally in three polls, were handed their first losses of 2008 last weekend, as NC State won two of three games in the teams’ series in Raleigh, N.C., to end Virginia’s season-opening win streak at 11. UVa won the opener, 5-3 in 10 innings, before the Wolfpack earned 2-0 and 4-2 wins to take the series.
Virginia’s pitching continues to impress, as the UVa staff boasts an ACC-best 1.64 ERA and 138 strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting just .199 this season against the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers will look to continue their solid play at home, where UVa has won all 10 of its games this season. Virginia also will look to jump start its offense, which cooled off over the weekend in hitting .184 against a stout Wolfpack pitching staff. For the year, the Cavaliers are still batting .338 second in the ACC.
Radford is off to good start at 7-4, despite losing two of three to Seton Hall at home over the weekend. The Highlanders are coached by Joe Raccuia, in his first year at RU. Virginia leads the series, 12-3-1, but this marks the teams’ first meeting since April 27, 2004, a 3-2 UVa victory.
Navy is 6-5 this year after winning a school-record 35 games last year. The Midshipmen won three of four over the weekend in their home round robin tournament, defeating Rhode Island and Iona (twice) and losing to Central Connecticut State. Navy is coached by Paul Kostacopoulos, in his third year at Navy. Virginia leads the series, 15-10, but this will be the first meeting since March 5, 2003 (UVa 12-1).
After the midweek games, Virginia hits the road again as it travels to Duke for a three-game ACC weekend series.