Hoos fall to Irish 8-2: Eliminated from ACC Championship contention

After giving up seven runs in the bottom of the eighth against the Miami Hurricanes to lose their opening game of ACC Tournament pool play in heartbreaking fashion, things didn't get much better today. Nothing seemed to be going right for the Hoos as balls that were falling for the Irish, weren't falling for the Hoos. Calls going the way of the Irish, weren't called the same the other way for the Hoos. That's baseball though, it happens. Sometimes it just isn't your day.

There is no better example than in the top of the third when after the first two batters reached (and advanced to second and third base), Brandon Waddell battled back and ultimately recorded a strike out for the third out of the inning. However, the swing and a miss came on a ball in the dirt and when catcher Robbie Coman went to throw the runner out at first, he tossed it past first baseman Matt Thaiss instead, allowing the runners on second and third to score and make the score 3-0.

Virginia would get two runs back in the bottom of the third when Thaiss ripped a double down the right field line scoring Kevin Doherty and Daniel Pinero. But that was about all the Hoos could muster at the plate as Notre Dame's Ryan Smoyer was effective to get the win and move to 9-0 on the season. Pavin Smith led the Hoos at the plate with two hits, while Doherty and Pinero both had a hit and drew a walk to go along with one run scored apiece.

Despite the six runs he gave up, Waddell had a solid outing. He went 6.0 giving up six runs (four earned), on seven hits, and five walks while striking out nine to take the loss.

By all measures, the Hoos are a solid #2 seed in next week's NCAA regional, but look to go into the NCAA Tournament on a winning note as they take on the NC State Wolfpack tomorrow night at 7 P.M.