The Cavaliers played near-flawless baseball in their climb to the near-consensus top ranking. A set of bullpen issues during last weekend's disappointing series loss to N.C. State, however, contributed to Virginia's fall to a new No. 4 ranking.
Since then, the Cavaliers (25-6, 8-4 ACC) have tinkered with new bullpen personnel and arrangements during their midweek victories against unranked James Madison and Radford. Although the wins may not have helped the squad to regain its national prominence just yet, Virginia will have that chance this weekend - as well as the chance to recapture a tie for the ACC Coastal Division lead - when it plays host to No. 2 Georgia Tech.
The Cavaliers field a talented offense and starting pitchers who could prove more than capable of slowing down the Yellow Jackets (26-3, 11-1 ACC) during this weekend's three-game series. So far, the Virginia lineup has scored roughly 8.5 runs per game - thanks to nine regulars who hit better than .300 at the plate - and has surrendered just 3.87 runs per game. Junior second baseman Phil Gosselin leads the Virginia offense, as well as the ACC, with 51 hits and is riding a 14-game hitting streak. Being able to get such an able player on base again may well be a crucial factor to Virginia's chances of success.
"I feel pretty comfortable in leadoff spot, getting good pitches to hit with guys behind me - [opposing teams] don't want me to be on base with all those guys coming up," Gosselin said. "The hits are just falling for me right now, still got some breaks coming my way."
The team cannot rely solely on the efforts of Gosselin, however. Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said he will need an entire team effort - from hitting to fielding and pitching - to emerge victorious against some of the nation's best collegiate baseball players. Georgia Tech, after all, comes to Davenport having won 12 out of its last 13 games, including a sweep of Duke last weekend and a midweek victory against Kennesaw State.
"Georgia Tech's offensive numbers are very, very gaudy," O'Connor said. "I mean they've got 30-plus home runs just in the league in 12 ACC games - that's unbelievable; it blows any other team away. They have an experienced lineup; they've got some powerful left-handed hitters in their lineup."
The Yellow Jackets, in fact, field a potent and star-studded offense that scores 11 runs per game, and features three batters with 10 home runs and seven starters who are hitting better than .300. The team's pitching staff, which only allows 3.75 runs per game, is also extremely talented, featuring four starting pitchers with more than four wins, including 2009 ACC Pitcher of the Year, junior Deck McGuire.
"Friday night ought to be a great matchup - [sophomore] Danny Hultzen against Deck McGuire - two of the top pitchers in the league," O'Connor said. "Runs might be tough to come by on Friday."\nOnce the series starts tonight at 7 p.m. at Davenport Field, the Cavaliers will find out just how much they will have to work to get those runs.
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