The Virginia baseball team swept its first ACC series of the season for the first time in five years this weekend at Wake Forest, taking revenge for losses in 2005 and more recently in 2007.
The Cavaliers (12-0, 3-0 ACC) dominated Wake Forest, scoring a total of 47 runs in three games. Junior shortstop Tyler Cannon played a large part in Virginia’s offensive success. In his first ACC series as a switch-hitter, Cannon delivered eight hits, including a home run, and batted in seven runs.
“I worked both sides really hard, just trying to stay aggressive and use my hands,” Cannon said. “It’s really paid off so far.”
Although Cannon led the Cavaliers, every player had some role in the offensive production.
“Nobody gave any at-bats away,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “In all three games, every player in our lineup contributed to all the runs being scored.”
Strong pitching also helped Virginia hold off the Demon Deacons. The Cavaliers fanned 31 in three games, with freshman Will Roberts contributing seven in six innings. Roberts, not usually a part of the weekend rotation, started Sunday after his debut against William & Mary Feb. 22. He appeared in place of usual Sunday starter, junior Neal Davis. Davis, however, is not out of the weekend rotation yet.
“It’s [going to] be kind of a week-to-week thing,” O’Connor said.
Catching for the Cavaliers also is split between two players. Both freshman John Hicks, an inexperienced slugger, and junior Franco Valdes, who struggled hitting last year but is excellent defensively behind the plate, have shared time. Valdes has come back strong this season, though, already driving home 14 runs. His .448 batting average includes three home runs. Hicks also hits more than .400, with 10 runs batted in and two home runs.
Moving forward, the Cavaliers hope to continue their offensive success against Navy Tuesday afternoon at Davenport Field. Junior Jeff Lorick, seeking to build on his 1-0 record, is expected to start for the Cavaliers.
Navy (4-4-1, 0-0 Patriot) has struggled offensively this season. Batting less than .300, the team will need to string hits together to upset the undefeated Cavaliers. The players also must maximize their ability to make contact at bat to counter the 129 strikeouts Virginia has notched against opponents this season.
Junior infielder and right-handed pitcher Jonathan Berkowitz could be the spark Navy needs for a victory. With a .391 batting average, Berkowitz already has nine runs batted in.
Virginia, meanwhile, also needs to keep its bats hot, as Navy rarely makes mistakes on defense, boasting a .971 fielding percentage.
The Cavaliers will take on VMI the following day in a rescheduled game from last week. The Keydets (5-7, 0-0 Big South) will have to hope for an energy-drained Virginia squad. To counter the strong Cavaliers, the Keydets will need to improve their 7.07 ERA and boost their team batting average, which currently stands at less than .300.
That being said, Virginia has had some trouble handling VMI in the past. Last season, the Keydets put up a fight but lost 6-5 in 11 innings. In 2007, the teams split their two-game series; Virginia won at home 5-3 but lost in Lexington 2-5.
Sophomore Sam Roberts, a standout for the Keydets, may give VMI an edge against the Cavaliers. His offensive production is on the rise, and he helped lead the Keydets to a 12-11 victory against Rider in their last game by smashing his third home run in two games.
Nevertheless, as underdogs, both Navy and VMI will most likely have to play error-free baseball and produce on offense to offset the Cavaliers’ talent. Virginia, riding a 12-game winning streak, currently is tied with Georgia as the nation’s only two undefeated teams, and will seek to carry this past weekend’s momentum back home this week before powerhouse Florida State visits for another ACC series this weekend.
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