No. 5 Virginia Baseball Opens ACC Baseball Championship on Wednesday

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May 21, 2013

DURHAM, N.C. – The fifth-ranked Virginia baseball team opens postseason play at 3 p.m. Wednesday when it takes on Virginia Tech in the ACC Baseball Championship at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. Seeded third in the field, UVa also will play Georgia Tech at 11 a.m. Thursday and Florida State at 11 a.m. Saturday in the pool-play format.

The winners of the two pools will play for the championship and the conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA tournament at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Broadcast InformationThe ACC’s Regional Sports Networks will broadcast every game in pool play, while ESPN2 will have coverage of the Sunday championship game. ESPN3 will have live webcasts for all three contests, while live audio will be available on VirginiaSports.com through a Cavaliers Live subscription. Live statistics also will be available on VirginiaSports.com.

WINA 1070-AM will have the live radio broadcast of all the entire series. Select stations across the Virginia Sports Radio Network will pick up coverage during the tournament. The following stations will carry UVA baseball this spring:

Charlottesville: WINA 1070-AM
Richmond: WRNL 910-AM
Lynchburg: WZZI 97.9-FM
Mount Jackson: WSVG 790-AM
Martinsville: WHEE 1370-AM
Petersburg: WHAP 1340-AM
Staunton: WTON 94.3-FM
Winchester: WXVA 610-AM

Virginia in the Latest National Rankings
Baseball America, NCBWA – 5
Collegiate Baseball, USA Today Coaches – 6

Virginia Cavaliers (45-9, 22-8 ACC)
Probable Starting Rotation
Wed. – Fr. LHP Brandon Waddell (5-1, 4.00 ERA)
Thu. – R-Sr. LHP Scott Silverstein (8-1, 3.19 ERA)
Sat. – TBA

Virginia at the ACC Baseball Championship
Virginia has won three ACC tournament titles (1996, 2009, `11) – all in Durham. UVa has won eight straight ACC tournament games in Durham.

UVa now has played in each of the 40 ACC tournaments. Virginia is 51-64 all-time at the ACC Baseball Championship. Under Brian O’Connor (since 2004), Virginia is 20-10 in the tournament.

Cavaliers Against Pool B Opponents
Virginia went 5-4 this season against its foes from Pool B. UVa’s season and tournament history against its Pool B opponents:

This Season – Tournament History (Last Mtg.)
1-2 at Virginia Tech (April 26-27) – First Meeting
1-2 at Georgia Tech (April 12-14) – 3-7 (2012; 17-5 GT)
3-0 vs. Florida State (April 20-21) – 7-7 (2012; 7-0 UVa)

Virginia Ties Program Record for Regular-Season Wins
Virginia earned 45 regular-season wins, tying the 2006 and 2011 teams for the most in program history. This marks the fifth-most wins in a season in UVa baseball history, matching the 2007 season. The only UVa seasons with more wins: 2011 (56), 2010 (51), 2009 (49) and 2006 (47).

Cavaliers Hit 40 Wins for Eighth Time in 10 Years
Virginia recorded its 40th win of the year last Friday, reaching the 40-win plateau for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons. UVa had one season of 40 wins or more prior to 2004 (1996). UVa has recorded 39 wins or more in all 10 years under the current coaching staff (39 wins in 2008, 2012).

Six Cavaliers Named All-ACC
Virginia boasted a conference-high six players on the 2013 All-ACC Team. UVa had four players on the All-ACC First Team: Kyle Crockett (relief pitcher), Reed Gragnani (second base), Nick Howard (utility) and Mike Papi (outfield). Joe McCarthy was named to the second team at outfield, while Branden Cogswell was a second-team honoree at shortstop.

In addition to the all-conference honorees, McCarthy was tabbed the ACC Freshman of the Year and Brian O’Connor was named the ACC Coach of the Year. McCarthy is Virginia’s second ACC Freshman of the Year honoree, joining Danny Hultzen (2009). O’Connor was named the ACC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his 10 seasons at Virginia.

Potent Lineup from Top to Bottom
There is not an easy out in the Virginia lineup, as all nine Virginia starters are batting at least .276, while seven are batting over .300. Five Cavaliers have at least 44 RBI apiece, including Reed Gragnani, who owns 48 RBI while typically batting in the 7- or 8-hole. UVa’s 10 regulars in the lineup all own on base percentages of .350 or better, while five are over .400.

Up Next
Virginia will await its NCAA tournament fate next. The 16 host institutions will be announced at 9 p.m. Sunday, while the tournament selection show is slated for noon Monday on ESPNU.