After a game that featured a seven hour and 24 minute rain delay in the middle of the second inning and a six minute delay in the sixth inning, the Cavaliers wound up on top of the Miami Hurricanes 6-4 to improve to 2-0 in the ACC tournament and almost assure themselves a spot in the ACC Championship game on Sunday.
Will Roberts started the game and surprised many who are familiar with the UVa program by coming back after the epic-long and pitching into the 5th. Usually, after a rain delay, especially one of such magnitude, the pitcher would be removed for a reliever. Roberts pitched five innings and only gave up the two runs he gave up in the first inning off a Rony Rodriguez 2-run blast. Justin Thompson and Branden Kline came in after Roberts and closed out the game. Kline closed out the game and earned his 16th save of the season, two off the UVa season record.
The bats that showed up against Wake Forest on Wednesday showed up again last night. The lineup combined for six runs on 15 hits. While that does show that UVa is hitting the ball well and placing it where the fielders aren't, it also presents a problem a bigger problem that the 'Hoos are leaving a large amount of runners on base; something that is going to have to change.
Today the Cavs will take on Carolina in the final game of pool play for the tournament. Unfortunately, for both teams, the game won't start until the other four games that are scheduled before it are completed. I can't imagine this game starting before 930 or 10.
The Tar Heels and the Cavaliers are the only two teams that have the possibility of advancing to tomorrow and both will know before the game starts what their situation is. The 'Hoos will advance no matter what if both Miami and UNC beat Wake Forest early today. If UNC finishes off Wake in their game but Wake ends up beating Miami, the 'Hoos and Heels will both be playing for the chance to play on Sunday; winner advancing.
UNC and UVa should be very familiar with each other as their regular season series was just last weekend. UNC ended up sweeping the 'Hoos to give them their only series loss of the year. All three games were close as only the Friday night game was decided by more than a single run.
The boys will have something to prove tonight after getting swept last week at the hands of the Heels. I certainly don't expect them to play lackadaisical but if they have already clinched a spot on Sunday before the game, I can tell you there is a different mindset during the game. It's hard to play a meaningless game when you know you have a chance to play the next day for another Conference Championship. If the game means something, UVa wins. If it's meaningless, Carolina wins.
I'll be providing updates via Twitter @STLUVaBaseball and as always, GO HOOS!