The Cavaliers have not yet begun to fight.
The real battle begins today in Chapel Hill as the Virginia baseball team (17-3, 1-2 ACC) takes on No. 3 North Carolina (17-1, 3-0 ACC), a team that advanced to the College World Series last season and will be one of Virginia's toughest challenges this year.
"They look like they're carrying themselves with even more of a swagger than they have in the past," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said, later adding that "We're going to have to play our best baseball to go down there and win ... We beat North Carolina two out of three last year. They have close to the same team minus a couple of arms."
Because junior Sean Doolittle showed fatigue last weekend against Wake Forest, O'Connor has announced a change to his rotation this weekend. Virginia failed to secure the series victory against the Demon Deacons, losing in the final inning.
"It's a matter of whether or not we execute and get the job done at the end of the game," sophomore left fielder Brandon Guyer said. "In this league you lose when you don't do that. That's why we're 1-2 rather than 2-1."
O'Connor will start sophomore Jacob Thompson Friday, freshman Matt Packer Saturday, and Doolittle Sunday.
Opposing Thompson Friday will be UNC ace senior Robert Woodard.
"I've got a lot of respect for him," O'Connor said. "He really knows how to pitch and expand the plate. He throws any pitch on any count and it's a challenge for a hitter. So we'll have a fight on our hands Friday night."
The Tar Heels will follow with freshman Alex White Saturday and sophomore Luke Putkonen Sunday. The Tar Heels also feature junior closer Andrew Carignan, who was named ACC Pitcher of the Week after picking up three saves last weekend.
Adding to the challenge, O'Connor has had to shift his lineup because of injuries.
Sophomore Jeremy Farrell is expected to be out for another week because of a forearm injury, and sophomore shortstop Greg Miclat -- who has a sore right shoulder -- will serve as designated hitter Friday and Saturday and first baseman Sunday.
Freshman Tyler Cannon and junior Patrick Wingfield demonstrated Tuesday that they are able to fill Miclat and Farrell's void.
Virginia put up power numbers Tuesday, blasting three homeruns and tying the school record with 29 runs against Niagara. Now Virginia heads to Tobacco Road to face a skilled baseball team.
"We have to go in with the same approach -- we can't change anything," Guyer said.
North Carolina has immense power. The team hits a respectable .305, but has already hit 18 homeruns this season -- compared to Virginia's 12, three of which came Tuesday against Niagara.
Virginia, however, is known as a team that bunts at any time, plays hard all nine innings and constantly steals bases. The team has 50 stolen bases already this season and a team batting average of .363.
The weekend's series also features a matchup of the two best pitching staffs in the ACC. UNC pitchers have an ACC-best 2.10 ERA, compared to Virginia's second-best 2.42. The Tar Heels also keep runners off base, allowing only 101 hits and a .194 batting average. The Cavaliers allow an average of .233 and have allowed 150 hits this season.
Though the two teams have different methods of attack, UNC and Virginia are two evenly matched teams playing very successful baseball.
"I've been looking forward to this since I saw them on the schedule," Guyer said.
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