Athletes and coaches love to talk about rising to the occasion and playing well in the big game. This year the Cavaliers have succeeded in this oft-used sports cliché and seen most of their successes in the big games, particularly those games against ACC rivals, going 5-3 in the conference while posting an 18-24 record overall. This bodes well for the Cavaliers, who will take a two-game winning streak into Chapel Hill as they head south of the border for a doubleheader Saturday and a rubber game Sunday against North Carolina.
"I think we've been doing really well in the ACC," Virginia coach Cheryl Sprangel said. "We get really pumped up. I think they're definitely hungry for North Carolina."
While the Cavaliers have been successful in conference and have struggled out of the ACC, North Carolina has had the opposite experience. The Tar Heels are 27-21 overall but enjoy only a 4-5 record in the ACC. This weekend marks the last time Virginia and UNC will meet until the ACC tournament, which is less than a month away. The Cavaliers will hope to erase the feeling left after the first meeting of these two teams back in the middle of February, when they fell 3-2.
"We have got to keep our hitting going," Sprangel said. "They've got some decent pitchers."
The Cavaliers have had no lack of offense in the past few games. Junior infielder Sara Larquier exploded in Wednesday's doubleheader with four hits, including a double, a triple and three RBI. She was quick to point out that the games in Carolina will take a complete team effort.
"We're very up," Larquier said. "We have to hit the ball and play good defense. It's going to take every single one of us."
Pitching also will be a big focus for the team. North Carolina has had a very potent offense all year, and the Cavaliers' pitchers will have to play they same as they did in their last two games to keep the scores down.
"Last time we played them, I don't think our pitchers were as sharp as they are now," Sprangel said. "Our pitchers have really improved."
The last few games, Virginia has gotten good efforts from its starting pitchers, allowing only 3 runs in yesterday's doubleheader against Liberty.
With nine games remaining in its ACC season, the team recognizes it has to stay relaxed and focused. With three three-game series left against North Carolina, Florida State and Virginia Tech remaining, the Cavaliers still has plenty of time to turn the season around and make a large impact on their standing in the ACC.
"We seem to come out and play really well against ACC teams," junior pitcher Erin Horn said. "I think we really put it all out on the line for these games. We should for every game."
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