Long Ball Lifts Cavaliers Over Oklahoma 3-2
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia took Game 1 of its NCAA Super Regional series with Oklahoma, winning 3-2 on Saturday in front of a capacity crowd of 4,801 at Davenport Field. The Cavaliers, the tournament’s No. 5 national seed, used a pair of home runs and a strong outing from ace Danny Hultzen to take the lead in the series.
All of Virginia’s runs came from the long ball, with Phil Gosselin hitting a solo homer and Dan Grovatt adding a two-run homer. Gosselin, who was 2-for-4 on the day, led the Cavalier offense.
Hultzen improved to 11-1 on the season with the win. He pitched eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Kevin Arico pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his 18th save of the season. He now has tied the ACC single-season record of 18 saves, set twice previously. Michael Rocha (7-2) took the loss for Oklahoma after allowing three earned runs and five hits in 6.1 innings.
Virginia (51-12) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Cavaliers’ first batter of the game, Gosselin, hit a leadoff homer to left-centerfield for his 10th homer of the year. The hit also was Gosselin’s 95th of the year, as he broke the single-season Virginia record.
Oklahoma (47-16) drew even with a run in the top of the fifth. Max White has hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and scored on Chris Ellison’s two-out RBI single.
The Sooners took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth. Tyler Ogle reached with a one-out single. After moving to second on a groundout, he scored on White’s two-out single.
The Cavaliers retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Keith Werman led off the inning with a double, which was followed by Grovatt’s two-run homer to right, giving UVa a 3-2 lead. The home run was Grovatt’s ninth of the season.
Oklahoma was led offensively by White and Ogle, both recording two hits. Sooner starting pitcher Michael Rocha took the loss, falling to 7-2 on the year. He allowed three runs on five hits in 6.1 innings of work.
Game two of the best-of-three series is Sunday at Davenport Field. Game time is 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN and online at ESPN3.com.