Today the Virginia baseball team will travel to Clemson, South Carolina to play the No. 20 Tigers in a highly anticipated game. The Cavaliers (19-8, 5-3 ACC), are coming off a 10 game win streak into today's game, including a 3-0 shutout over Liberty at Davenport Field Wednesday night.
In Virginia's fifth shutout win of the season, left-handed third-year Joe Koshansky did a little bit of everything, pitching eight scoreless innings on the mound en route to picking up his fourth win of the year, improving to 4-0. Koshansky also hit a solo home run in the eighth to provide some offense. It was his second home run of the season. Second baseman Kyle Werman and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman posted the other two RBIs against Liberty.
The win over the visiting Flames increased the Cavaliers' winning streak to an ACC-leading ten games. The streak marks the first time since the 1947 that the Cavaliers have compiled 10 consecutive victories and has helped Virginia to a perfect 16-0 home record, the longest home win streak in the history of Virginia baseball.
The current winning stretch includes an 11-4 beating of visiting No. 16 Richmond on Tuesday night. In an explosive performance, the Cavaliers broke open a 2-2 tie by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and the Spiders never were able to collect and catch up.
Clemson (21-6, 1-2) is ranked 20th by the Baseball America Poll. The Tigers have been ranked as high as No. 15, thanks to a strong non-conference schedule that includes 3 games against No. 1 Auburn. Clemson has been riding strong behind the play of shortstop Russell Triplett along with co-second basemen David Slevin and Herman Demmink. Triplett currently is batting .571 in ACC games. Coach Dennis Womack has noticed Triplett's play, and hopes to contain the shortstop without changing his team's approach.
"We're gonna try and miss his bat," Womack said. "But, we're not gonna change the way we pitch."
The Tigers most recently beat South Carolina in Columbia Wednesday night by a score of 4-2. Pitcher Patrick Hogan (1-1) picked up the win for Clemson, which also was paced by 2 RBIs from first baseman Michael Johnson. On Tuesday evening, the Tigers won a big game against Western Carolina at home by a score of 5-3, avenging a loss from earlier in the season. Junior right-hander Steven Jackson (3-1) earned the win, pitching seven innings and giving up just two earned runs in the Tigers' victory. With Tuesday night's win, Clemson improved to 15-0 at home, eerily similar to Virginia's record in Charlottesville.
Womack said he is anticipating the demands of the Cavaliers' upcoming series against the Tigers.
"I think Clemson will obviously be a challenge, and I'm looking forward to seeing how we react," Womack said. "I have a great deal of confidence in our club. I think our players are confident -- I think we have to deal with some injuries right now, but I think some guys are ready to step up and help us. I'm ready to take on the Tigers. I'm excited about going."
Tonight's first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 7:15. The Cavaliers also will face Clemson on Saturday, April 5 at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m. All three games of the series will be played at the Tigers' Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
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