Without a doubt, the Cavalier faithful were watching the game this afternoon thinking this was the same story, but on a different day. The Hoos were consistently getting men on base and were consistently unable to string more hits together to score those runners.
Entering the 6th, the two teams were tied and a sense of inevitability had seemed to set in. Fortunately for the UVa fans that didn't give up, Kenny Towns reached third on a double and an error by the Terps' LF. He would go on to score on a John La Prise ground out and give UVa the 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Brandon Waddell started the game and fought off threats from Maryland time and time again. He was fortunate enough to escape those threats twice due to Maryland base running blunders; something that had cost UVa the game yesterday. Waddell gave the Hoos the start they needed going 5.2 innings and holding Maryland to only a single run. Artie Lewicki relieved Waddell in the 6th and was virtually lights out until the 9th inning, when the game was already in hand.
The offense had more hits than it knew what to do with, but was unfortunate that many of those hits were singles and unable to score countless runs. With 17 hits you would think a team would score nine or ten runs; not seven. Luckily the boys were able to score a single run in the sixth, three in the seventh, and single runs again in the eighth and ninth.
Mike Papi will be remembered by most as the best offensive threat from Sunday going 3 for 5 with a run and an RBI, but five other Cavalier hitters had multi hit games themselves, including Derek Fisher who had seemingly been nonexistent at the plate in his previous postseason games.
The biggest difference between Saturday and Sunday might have been Robbie Coman behind the plate. Third year Nate Irving has been a wall behind the plate, but struggling with a bat in his hand recently. He was even robbed of two likely hits on Saturday. Coman took the job on Sunday and scored two runs on a single hit and two walks. That likely wasn't the difference maker, but it certainly helped.
With the win the Hoos force the decisive game three on Monday. The game time is yet to be determined, and likely won't be announced til the other Super Regional games from UVa's side of the bracket are completed. The game is scheduled for 4 PM, but if TCU and/or Louisiana-Lafayette can win their game today, UVa's game would likely move to a 7 PM slot (TCU and ULL's games are scheduled for 7 tomorrow).
UPDATE: ESPN has announced that the UVa-UMD game will be at 7 tomorrow night. Josh Sborz will be on the mound for the Hoos