When the Cavaliers face Virginia Commonwealth University at home today at 3:00, they hope to play with more intensity than they did last Wednesday.
In their 5-1 loss to Old Dominion, many players felt lackluster intensity at the previous day's practice was a key factor in the loss. Virginia pitcher and first baseman Sean Doolittle said he felt that the Cavaliers had learned their lesson, but that they needed to come out and have a good practice yesterday.
"We addressed [the lackluster intensity] with the team after the Old Dominion game, and we made it a point to come out strong this weekend and learn from it," Doolittle said. "But [yesterday] we had to come out and go about it the right way and have a good hard practice, because VCU is every bit as good as Old Dominion, if not better, so we have to make sure we take care of business."
VCU is playing solid baseball this season. They currently have a 3-1 record with their only loss occurring to Big 10 foe Northwestern in ten innings. VCU has scored at least four runs in all of their games this season.
It will be up to Doolittle to contain the bats of the Rams. He says he's ready for the opportunity to start his first game as a pitcher.
"I'm pretty excited," Doolittle said. "VCU is a good club; they are off to a good start. They have a couple of really good hitters, and I am excited to go out there and compete against them and give the team a good quality start and show the coaches what I can do starting wise."
Doolittle struggled in the Towson series with his bat, going one-for-10 at the plate. Virginia coach Brian O'Connor believes Doolittle, a pre-season all-American, will play better as the season goes along.
"He's a really good player and that will come out," O'Connor said. "Hopefully, with him starting on the mound and him hitting for himself, he will come out tomorrow and have a big day, most importantly on the mound and secondly with the bat."
A strong start is critical because the Cavaliers have struggled with their starting pitching at times this season. Against Old Dominion this past Wednesday, Pat McAnaney went just three innings allowing seven hits and five runs. This past Sunday, Robert Poutier went only two innings allowing two hits, three runs and walking four batters.
"We need to get a quality start," O'Connor said. "If we get a quality start, we have our bullpen lined up. I know Sean Doolittle will give us a quality start and a good chance to win."
Even though the Cavaliers face another mid-major, in-state team today, O'Connor thinks his players know how good other teams are in the state and how they have to come out and play effectively today.
"I don't think they have ever not understood how good the in-state teams are," O'Connor said. "The reality last Wednesday was we really faced a good pitcher, and we didn't get a quality start and we faced somebody else's number one, and that happens in baseball. You're going to get beat on certain days. I don't think we will take VCU lightly at all."
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