The No. 25 Virginia baseball team (19-5, 4-2 ACC) returns to action this weekend with a three-game road test against N.C. State (15-7, 1-2) in Raleigh, N.C. The Cavaliers have been particularly impressive on the road this season with a record of 9-1. The Wolfpack, on the other hand, are a solid 10-4 within the friendly confines of Doak Field.
N.C. State, however, is quite a formidable foe in any stadium. Last season, the Wolfpack advanced to the Super Regionals in the NCAA tournament. A series victory over a team with the stature and tradition of N.C. State would be quite significant in cementing Virginia's arrival on the national collegiate baseball radar.
Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said he is very aware of the type of team his Cavaliers will be facing.
"N.C. State has had a very good baseball program," O'Connor said. "And they have got outstanding pitching."
Virginia will be looking to rebound from their first series loss of the season against North Carolina last weekend.
Virginia started its ACC season 3-0 after sweeping then-No. 17 Georgia Tech on the road, which helped the squad earn CollegeBaseballInsider.com's Team of the Week for March 8-14. In order to prove that Virginia is deserving of all the early season recognition and accolades, they would benefit greatly from a strong showing on the road against yet another quality ACC opponent.
The Wolfpack are currently No. 21 and No. 24 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and Baseball Weekly poll, respectively. Thus, the Cavaliers will have a great opportunity to enhance their standing in all three major polls. Like all coaches, O'Connor plans on instructing his squad to take it one game at a time this weekend.
"We need to go down there with the focus of trying to win one game, and hopefully that game is on Friday," O'Connor said. "Then we can turn our attention to winning two games."
O'Connor also expects his team to do the little things to win these critical road games.
"We are a team that has to do the little things, and that goes back to defense," O'Connor said. "We are not going to strike a lot of their hitters out. Their offense is going to put the ball in play a lot, so we have got to manage the ball defensively."
Thus far, Virginia has been quite successful with its fielding. The Cavaliers have a .973 fielding percentage as a team, which is good enough for a second-place tie in the ACC.
For Virginia, the team's success this season begins with senior pitcher/first baseman Joe Koshansky.
"He sets the tone for us -- offensively, on the mound, defensively -- all of them," senior Kyle Werman said.
Statistically, Koshansky has been a do-all player for the Cavaliers this season. Currently, he has a .337 batting average with a slugging percentage of .728. Furthermore, the lefty leads the team in RBIs with 35 and home runs with 10. For most, these statistics would signify an All-ACC type season. But Koshansky's importance is not limited to his prowess at the plate. Defensively at first base, he has made just one error in a team best 191 chances (.995 fielding percentage). On the mound, he has compiled an impressive 4-0 record with 1.89 ERA for Virginia and is the likely starter for Sunday's series finale.
With a series victory, expect the Cavaliers to continue making noise in the polls as the season's midpoint approaches.
Read More
Women’s basketball goes scoreless in the final three minutes of a 68-65 loss to Louisville
By Xander Tilock | 3 hours agoThe Cavaliers have now lost three straight ACC games.
The Cavaliers run, jump, and throw their way through the Penn 10 Elite
By Caroline Wulff | 4 hours agoVirginia runners turned in quality performances against competition from the Ivy League, Big Ten and other prominent conferences.
No. 5 women’s tennis wins ITA Kickoff Weekend in thrilling final
By Gracie Genereux | 5 hours agoVirginia defended its home court in the regional qualifier.
