In the first ever midweek game that featured two top-10 ranked teams at Davenport Field, the Cavaliers defended their home field. The Cavaliers beat the Chanticleers for the first time since 2005, ending their 17-game winning streak and Virginia's 3-game losing streak to the foe from the Big South.
After not playing in the last Saturday game at Maryland due to sickness, 3rd year Phil Gosselin put the Hoos ahead in the 2nd inning with a grand slam and never looked back. After the bases were loaded when 1st year Stephen Bruno was walked, Gosselin hit a 2-1 pitch into the Hoo Zone for his 5th home run of the year and gave the Cavs an early 4-0 lead. The Hoos would score again in the 4th inning thanks to a double by John Hicks that scored Kenny Swab. They would score their final run in the 5th off a Jarrett Parker sacrifice fly that scored Gosselin.
First year Branden Kline turned in a stellar performance going a full 5 innings and only gave up 2 runs on 4 hits. Tyler Wilson relieved Kline in the 6th and again showed why he might be the most important pitcher in the Cavaliers bullpen by giving the Cavaliers a strong 3 innings and only allowing a run. Arico came on in the 9th with a 3 run lead and closed out the game to give him a share of the national lead with his 13th save of the year.
The game also had two significant career marks. With the win, Coach O'Connor has 300 wins in just his 7th season coaching the Hoos. Having not even finished this year, that gives Coach O'Connor an average of 42 wins a season. I am too lazy to do the research but that has to be one of the highest average of victories over the last 7 years in the nation. Tyler Cannon also played in his 225th game as a Cavalier which ties him David Stone for the UVa record.
Not that they need much help in the national polls but the win should help the Cavaliers in the RPI since Coastal was ranked ahead of Virginia. Going into yesterday the Hoos had the #7 RPI while Coastal had the #1. So technically, yesterday was an upset.
Today the Hoos take on the Hoyas of Georgetown. I can't imagine the Hoos will have much of a problem with them as they have struggled mightily in the Big East so far this year and only compiled a 19-21 overall record and a 2-13 record in the Big East. They haven't beaten a ranked team yet this year and I don't expect them to do it tonight. Hoos win and extend their winning streak to 7 games and improve my prediction score even more.