2014 Charlottesville Super Regional

3. Virginia Cavaliers

Charlottesville, Virginia

At-large bid from ACC

2014 record: 22-8, 47-13 (second in Coastal Division)

Head coach: Brian O’Connor (Creighton, 1993)

Record at school: 508-174-2, 11 years

Overall record: Same

Assistant coaches: Kevin McMullan, Karl Kuhn, Matt Kirby

Team offense: .277 BA, 330 R, 33 HR, .380 SLG%, .375 OBP%, 60-79 SB

Team pitching: 2.29 ERA, 539 IP, 382 H, 169 BB, 491 K

Top hitters: John LaPrise (.383/1/14), Joe McCarthy (.303/6/45), Brandon Cogswell (.294/0/17), Mike Papi (.297/11/51), Derek Fisher (.288/3/23), Daniel Pinero (.252/0/17), Nick Howard (.265/1/20), Brandon Downes (.218/7/35)

Top pitchers: Alec Bettinger (6-0, 1.23 ERA, 36.2 IP, 24 H, 15 BB, 32 K), Nathan Kirby (9-1, 1.36 ERA, 99.1 IP, 58 H, 24 BB, 102 K), Artie Lewicki (6-1, 1.72 ERA, 52.1 IP, 30 H, 11 BB, 49 K), Whit Mayberry (6-1, 1.74 ERA, 2 SV, 46.2 IP, 30 H, 11 BB, 49 K), Nick Howard (2-1, 2.15 ERA, 19 SV, 29.1 IP, 19 H, 12 BB, 50 K), Brandon Waddell (8-3, 2.73 ERA, 92.2 IP, 80 IP, 14 BB, 63 K), Josh Sborz (4-4, 3.38 ERA, 64 IP, 47 H, 35 BB, 58 K)

Last NCAA appearance: 2013 (3-0 at Charlottesville Regional, 0-2 at Charlottesville Super Regional)

Notes: Virginia, which made its 11th straight NCAA tournament under coach Brian O’Connor, is in the Super Regional round for the fifth time in six years, a feat matched only by Florida State. The Cavaliers will meet Maryland – the ACC rivals met only once this year, a 7-6 loss in the ACC Tournament. Virginia took two of three from Maryland in 2013. Assistants Kevin McMullan and Karl Kuhn have been with O’Connor all 11 seasons, as the Cavaliers have averaged 46 wins per season over that time. O’Connor pitched on the 1991 College World Series team at Creighton and has led the Cavaliers to Omaha in 2009 and 2011. He was named 2013 and 2014 ACC Coach of the Year. Virginia entered this year having won 50 or more in three of the past four seasons and finished this regular season with one less win than last year. The Cavaliers’ offense is capable but didn’t live up to expectations after hitting .314 last year – it scored better than eight runs a game last year and only 5.4 this year. Virginia is 14-6 in one-run games after going 1-1 in the ACC Tourney in such games. Sophomore Nathan Kirby emerged as the ace the Cavaliers needed after finishing with a 6.06 ERA last year. Opponents are hitting .170 off him this year after hitting .316 off him last year. Nick Howard is one of the top two-way players in the country; opponents hit .180 off him, and he is fourth in the country in saves.

Maryland Terrapins

College Park, Maryland

At-large bid from ACC

2014 record: 15-14, 39-21 (second in Atlantic Division)

Head coach: John Szefc (Drexel, 1989)

Record at school: 69-46, 2 years

Overall record: 281-183-1, 9 years

Assistant coaches: Jim Belanger, Rob Vaughn, Corey Haines

Team offense: .271 BA, 326 R, 19 HR, .362 SLG%, .381 OBP, 84-113 SB

Team pitching: 3.36 ERA, 530 IP, 458 H, 199 BB, 491 K

Top hitters: Brandon Lowe (.339/1/39/12 2B), Blake Schmit (.313/1/29/16-21 SB), Kevin Martir (.275/4/25), Tim Lewis (.287/0/14), Charlie White (.284/2/29/24-29 SB), Anthony Papio (.271/2/28), Jose Cuas (.271/5/42/13 2B), LaMonte Wade (.255/2/25/12 2B)

Top pitchers: Jake Drossner (4-1, 2.45 ERA, 61.2 IP, 55 H, 23 BB, 59 K), Jake Stinnett (7-6, 1 SV, 2.65 ERA, 112 IP, 79 H, 27 BB, 130 K), Bobby Ruse (7-2, 2.70 ERA, 60 IP, 44 H, 12 BB, 35 K), Mike Shawaryn (11-3, 2.81 ERA, 86.1 IP, 77 H, 24 BB, 70 K), Kevin Mooney (1-2, 4.05 ERA, 12 SV, 33.1 IP, 31 H, 18 BB, 45 K)

Last NCAA Appearance: 1971 (0-2 in District 3 in Gastonia, N.C.)

Notes: Maryland made the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time and first in 43 years. This is the Terrapins’ first Super Regional. The Terps did what few teams have been able to do: beat South Carolina in the Regionals. When Maryland beat the Gamecocks 4-3 in the winners’ bracket, it ended South Carolina’s 28-game Regional home winning streak. Prior to their three wins in Columbia, the Terps were 1-6 in the NCAA Tournament. Maryland had an 11-game win streak before two losses in final two games of ACC Tournament – the streak included a 7-6 win over Virginia in the teams’ only meeting this year. The Terps reached the ACC championship game for the first time since 1976. Pitcher Jake Stinnett was named second team All-ACC and was drafted as the No. 45 overall pick by the Chicago Cubs – he ranks third in the nation with 130 strikeouts. He leads the conference with 123 strikeouts, 104 innings and four complete games. Outfielder Charlie White and second baseman Brandon Lowe also earned All-ACC honors. Freshman Mike Shawaryn leads the ACC with 11 wins. Head coach John Szefc took Marist to the NCAA Tournament four times.