Virginia Goes Unbeaten in Charlottesville Regional, Advances to Supers

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the ninth time in the last 15 years, Virginia (44-15) is heading to the NCAA Super Regionals after a 9-2 win over Mississippi State (40-23) on Sunday night at Disharoon Park. The Cavaliers went 3-0 in Regional Play for the second year in a row. 

All nine of UVA’s Super Regional appearances have been under head coach Brian O’Connor. The Cavaliers advance and plan to host Kansas State, the winner of the Fayetteville Regional next weekend at Disharoon Park. Dates and times will be released by the NCAA on Tuesday (June 4). 

Virginia took the lead for good with a pair of two-out singles in the third, two of eight unanswered by the Cavaliers. UVA blew the game open in the top of the ninth with a six-run rally, the 22nd time the Cavaliers have scored five or more runs in an inning this season. 

 On the mound, Virginia right-hander Jay Woolfolk (3-1) pitched a career-high 8.0 innings and held the Bulldogs to only two runs, while nabbing seven strikeouts, also a career best. For his performance, Woolfolk was named the Charlottesville Regional Most Outstanding Player. 

Offensively, the Hoos were led by Bobby Whalen (2-for-5), Henry Ford (2-for-5, RBI), Ethan Anderson (2-for-4) and Luke Hanson (2 RBI), who made his first appearance of the Charlottesville Regional Sunday. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• For the third-straight day, the Cavaliers were the first to put a run on the scoreboard. Ford drove in his first run of the regional with an RBI single that scored Griff O’Ferrall who led the game off with a double.

• The initial lead for the Cavaliers – the designated visiting team – was short-lived as MSU’s Bryce Jordan blasted a two-run homer in the bottom half of the first, his 20th of the year and third of the regional. 
• The Cavaliers regained the lead in the top of the third after Ford’s infield single, followed by an MSU throwing error, allowed O’Ferrall, who was on second, to round third and touch home safely to tie the game, 2-2. On the following at bat, Jacob Ference’s left field single brought home Bobby Whalen, which put the Hoos ahead to stay.
• In the ninth, Harrison Didawick and Henry Godbout both walked to bring up Anderson, whose infield single loaded the bases. Then, Hanson went first-pitch swinging and roped a shot to left to score Godbout and Didawick.

• UVA extend its lead when O’Ferrall laid down a bunt and MSU relief pitch Tyler Davis’ throw to first sailed past the MSU first baseman to bring home two more runs.

• Later in the ninth, the Hoos tacked on two more runs on two separate wild pitches, which allowed O’Ferrall and Whalen to touch home plate, respectively.
• Woolfolk received a standing ovation from the Disharoon Park crowd in the bottom of the ninth. Righty Chase Hungate entered in relief and retired two of the next three batters, one of which on a 5-4 double play, to clinch the Charlottesville Regional.

ADDITIONAL NOTES 

• The Cavaliers improve to 3-0 against SEC teams this season with two wins against Mississippi State and one against Auburn on Feb. 25.
• Ethan Anderson has reached base in 30-straight games with his single seventh inning. 
• The start on the mound for Woolfolk was his first since March 17. His previous career career-high in innings pitched was 6.0 vs. UMass on 3/3/24 and his previous career-best for strikeouts was six at Miami on March 10)
• O’Ferrall scored three runs in the contest and moved into second place, passing Bill Narleski (1984-87) for second place on UVA’s career runs scored list.

UP NEXT 

In the best-of-three Super Regional round, Virginia will be square off against Kansas State (35-24), the winner of the Fayetteville Regional, next weekend. Start times and TV designations will post to VirginiaSports.com announced by the NCAA on Tuesday (June 2). 

All-Tournament Team
C – Jacob Ference, Virginia
1B – Hunter Hines, Mississippi State
2B – Henry Godbout, Virginia
3B – Eric Becker, Virginia
SS – David Mershon, Mississippi State
OF – Jackson Tucker, St. John’s
OF – Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State
OF – Bryce Chance, Mississippi State
DH – Paul Orbon, St. John’s
P – Khal Stephan, Mississippi State
P – Jay Woolfolk, Virginia
P – Matt Augustin, Virginia
MOP – Jay Woolfolk
*A tie in the voting at pitcher resulted in a 12-man