Virginia Falls to Wake Forest in Series Opener, 7-3

Despite totaling 10 hits in the game, the Cavaliers dropped the series opener at Wake Forest, 7-3.

Derek Casey took the mound to begin the game, but was not able to turn in a quality start for the Hoos, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks in just 5.1 innings. Reliever Griff McGarry was unable to keep the Deacons off the board as well giving up 2 more runs in his inning of relief.

Fortunately, 5th year Mack Meyer held Wake at bay and off the base paths over the final 1.2 innings.

Though the offense was able to put up a 10 hit performance, including two hit games from Nate Eikhoff, Alex Tappen, and Cameron Comer, the Hoos left 10 men on base.

Even though the Hoos dropped the first game, and likely dropped further in the RPI, thanks to Virginia Tech dropping their first game to UNC, the Cavaliers locked up a spot in next week’s ACC Tournament.

Though there was hope of a series sweep this weekend and a few wins next weekend might do enough to give UVa a possibility of an at-large bid, it is more than likely that Virginia will have to win the ACC Tournament to secure the ACC’s automatic bid to be playing in a regional.

One step at a time though. Currently, Virginia sits in a tie with Pitt for 11th, and since Pitt won the series against the Hoos earlier this season, UVa is the 12 seed. Wake Forest, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech all sit just one game ahead of the Cavaliers (assuming GT drops their opener to Duke which is in progress as I write this).

The season won’t be over no matter how the final two games of the series at Wake Forest play out, but Virginia could use some good momentum going in to next week’s tournament.