After sweeping the Hokies in Blacksburg this weekend, the Cavaliers jumped to No. 3 in the nation, the team's highest ranking in program history.
Now they will have to continue their momentum on the road, as they take on the Keydets of VMI today in Lexington. Last time they met, Virginia (27-5, 8-4 ACC) defeated VMI by a narrow margin of 5-3 Feb. 27 in Charlottesville. The Keydets proved to be one of Virginia's toughest out-of-conference matchups, forcing Virginia to win the game in come-from-behind fashion.
Senior outfielder Tim Henry says the Cavaliers won't have an advantage just because they've seen the Keydets already this season.
"It's going to be different every time," Henry said. "I think we know a little bit about their hitters, but they also know about us. So it doesn't give us any advantage, and it doesn't make us any more comfortable."
At No. 3 in the country, Virginia now sits behind No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 2 Florida State.
"It's a nice honor," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "But all our players care about is where we are at the end of the year."
With four ACC series completed, the Cavaliers got their first ACC sweep this weekend against Virginia Tech. The pitching staff performed well for Virginia, allowing only 10 runs during the three-game span.
The Cavalier staff was led by sophomores Andrew Carraway (4-0) and Jacob Thompson (7-0). Carraway pitched five shutout innings of relief, picking up the win Saturday. Thompson picked up the "W" Friday, pitching seven innings and giving up one run on six hits.
Thompson's seven wins are tied for first in the ACC and his 1.75 ERA is the conference's best. His 52 strikeouts rank second best.
Though Thompson is just a sophomore, O'Connor said he's not surprised that Thompson is one of the most potent pitchers in the ACC.
"Last year he was very dominant as an all-ACC pitcher and as a true freshman," O'Connor said. "We expected that he'd be better this year than he was last year. He's older, he's more mature and he has more confidence."
Last year, Thompson sported a 2.60 ERA and went 10-4. He is one of only four Cavaliers ever to win 10 games in a season.
Should he continue his torrid pace, Thompson will have 13 regular season wins and the Virginia record for wins in a season, currently held by Seth Greisinger, who had 12 in 1996.
"Thompson is on a great start this year," Henry said. "Whenever he's pitching, you feel good about the game because he's going to give a quality outing."
O'Connor has named freshman southpaw Jeff Lorick (1-0) the starter for today's matchup. Lorick, who has a 3.57 ERA, will make his third start of the season. VMI will counter with freshman Chris Duty (3-1) who will be making his seventh start.
Offensively, the Keydets are led by sophomores Eddie Van Es and A.J. Yoder. Van Es leads the team with a .362 batting average and Yoder follows at .342.
VMI has already knocked off Florida twice this year and Auburn once, taking all three victories on the road.
Back in their new home at Gray-Minor Stadium, which was completed this year, the Keydets will look for every advantage they can get.
"Anytime you're playing at home, it's a totally different ball game," Henry said. "You're comfortable with your own park, your fans. Whenever you go on the road it's very difficult. That makes it that much harder and you have to focus that much harder to get the win."
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