June 21, 2014

Virginia Advances to CWS Championship Series

In Omaha, Neb., backup catcher Robbie Coman had a two-run single to spark a three-run fourth as Virginia eliminated Ole Miss Saturday to advance to the best-of-three championship series of the 2014 College World Series.

The Cavaliers (52-14) are looking for their first baseball national championship and just the second for the ACC. Wake Forest captured the national title in 1955. The Rebels finish the season at 48-21.

The game began on Friday evening and was scoreless in the top of the second when play was suspended. The contest was resumed on Saturday afternoon with Ole Miss lighting the scoreboard first. Will Allen had a leadoff single in the bottom of the second and moved to second on a passed ball. J.B. Woodman had an infield base hit to advance Allen to third. Woodman was thrown out at second attempting to steal and Allen scored on the play to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead.

Virginia responded in the top of the fourth. Joe McCarthy drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a one-out single by Brandon Downes (2 for 4). John La Prise walked to load the bases. Coman (2 for 4) singled to right center to plate McCarthy and Downes to give the Cavaliers a 2-1 lead. Branden Cogswell laid down a safety squeeze to bring home La Prise to make it a 3-1 contest.

The Cavaliers added an insurance run in the seventh. Daniel Pinero had a leadoff single and scored on a two-out double by McCarthy to extend the advantage to 4-1.

Josh Sborz (6-4) earned the victory. He pitched one inning on Friday and returned to the mound on Saturday, working a total of five innings with four hits and one unearned run with four walks and four strikeouts. Artie Lewicki allowed one hit over three scoreless innings with one walk and two punchouts. Nick Howard allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, but rolled a groundball double play and ended the game with a strikeout to record his 20th save.

Virginia is 3-0 in the College World Series and 8-1 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.