Cavalier Baseball Locks Up Liberty

Coming off of a loss no team wants to compound the problem by losing the next game. Fortunately for UVa fans, the coaching staff rarely lets such an even occur. Yesterday was no different as the Hoos were coming off of a Sunday loss to Maryland with Liberty coming to Charlottesville to challenge the nationally ranked Cavalier boys. UVa didn't disappoint as they rolled to their 15th win of the year beating the Flames 7-2.

Freshman Joe McCarthy is making opposing teams take notice of him in the lineup, and yesterday the first year showed why. McCarthy ended the day with two hits in three at bats and two runs scored. Couple that with the two walks Joe earned and it was quite a day for the newcomer. On the year, with more than a quarter of the season in the books, McCarthy is batting .333 with 13 RBI and 15 runs scored. He only has one home run thus far, but I'd expect those numbers to go up as he gets more acclimated with the weight room and collegiate pitching because he's a big boy. Kenny Towns added to McCarthy's day with two hits of his own and Downes, Irving also contributed with two RBI.

These weekday matchups are likely the times we're going to see the young guns on the mound for the rest of the season. Yesterday three first years combined for seven innings. First year Trey Oest started on the mound and lasted a solid five innings only surrendering two runs on four hits and a walk. Although most of his innings have come during the week, Oest is second on the team with a 1.12 ERA and yesterday were the only runs he had surrendered all season long. Fellow first year Josh Sborz closed out the final two innings without giving up a run and only allowing two base runners with a walk and a hit. Third year Austin Young fit in between the two pitching two shutout innings of his own.

The Hoos have today off as they travel to Clemson to take on the Tigers this weekend in one of the premier matchups in the conference this weekend. Look for my Clemson break-down sometime around lunch tomorrow. Til then, enjoy the basketball!