After ending a seven-game winless streak with a weekend sweep over Bucknell, the Virginia baseball team hopes to continue its winning ways today against William & Mary in Williamsburg at 3 p.m.
Both teams are coming off three-game sweeps. The Cavaliers (3-6-1) routed the Bisons 6-1, 5-4 and 13-2. Meanwhile, the Tribe (9-2) defeated Drexel 12-4, 1-0 and 12-2. The Cavs grabbed their first wins of the season by putting together a solid all-around performance and hope to do the same against the Tribe in Williamsburg.
"William & Mary always plays us hard, and they've really improved their program," Virginia Coach Dennis Womack said. "I think that'll be a tough game."
The Cavs will have to maintain their momentum from the weekend with excellent play on both offense and defense against William & Mary if they want to push their winning streak to four games. The last time the two teams met, March 2, 1999 in Charlottesville, the Tribe triumphed over the Cavs in an 8-5 win.
"William & Mary's going to be a good club," junior lefthander Jon Metzger said. "Obviously, talent-wise, we should beat them, but then there's the aspect of whether or not you're playing up to your ability. If we play the way we did this weekend and keep improving, I think we should be able to handle them."
Metzger was a key part of Virginia's third victory over Bucknell Sunday, throwing seven strong innings as starting pitcher for the Cavs. Junior southpaw Brandon Creswell will try to fuel the Virginia defense against the Tribe when he takes the mound today. At 0-2, Creswell is looking for his first win of the season.
"We always have trouble with the in-state teams, pumping ourselves up and getting ready to play," senior shortstop Tim LaVigne said. "But I think everyone's excited to play right now because we're feeling really good."
As a relatively young team early in the season, the Cavs will need to stay focused as a team while working with different lineups against their opponents. Virginia scored 13 runs against Bucknell Sunday; the Cavs will look to find similar success with the bats today.
"We've got some tough games coming up," Womack said. "It'll be a big week for us. And once again, you're just trying to improve, trying to do the little things better. We're trying to get a lineup that has the right mix."
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