Edited to reflect postponement of Friday’s game
With all the excitement on Saturday being focused on the Basketball team celebrating their thrilling 2019 National Championship (in case you hadn’t heard), Virginia baseball will be hosting the Miami Hurricanes in a crucial ACC series that will have major implications on the Coastal Division race. The Hurricanes come into the weekend 22-12 overall, 7-8 in the ACC. Meanwhile the Hoos are riding a 4 game winning streak and stand 21-13 overall and 8-7 in conference. While the season hasn’t been what the Hoos have been looking for, a series win against Miami could go a long way to the Hoos getting back to the NCAA Tournament.
There’s a good bet there will be some fireworks this weekend as Miami and UVA rank numbers one and two respectively in the ACC at the plate. Miami comes in batting .301 on the year and are led by third baseman Raymond Gil, the ACC’s fourth leading hitter at .373. Not only does he hit for average, but Gil is second on the team with eight home runs. Behind Gil, the Hurricanes have four additional hitters batting over .300. The middle infield of Anthony Vilar and Freddy Zamora check in with averages of .339 and .331 while rightfielder Adrian Del Castillo is batting .317 and leads the team with 40 RBI. Jordan Lala is the table setter batting .314 leading off and playing center field. That doesn’t even include first baseman Alex Toral who is tied for the ACC lead in home runs with 14.
On the mound game one will be Evan McKendry. The junior right hander comes in to the game with a record of 5-1 with a 3.91 ERA. He has an ability to miss bats sporting a cool 11.4 K/9 Inning. Saturday the Hoos will face off against Chris McMahon. Also a right hander, McMahon is 2-2 on the season with a 4.53 ERA. While a little erratic, batters are only hitting .239 off of him. Finally on Sunday Brian Van Belle takes the hill. Van Belle leads the starters in ERA at 3.59 and has only given up ten walks in 42.2 innings pitched. At the back end of the bullpen are Greg Veliz and Daniel Federman. Both have appeared in 19 games while Federman leads the team in saves with five.
Virginia comes into the series fairly hot winning seven of ten. They’re able to match the Hurricanes with five starters hitting over .300 led by Tanner Morris at .358. They’re led in home runs by Brendan Rivoli with five followed closely by Morris and Cameron Simmons with four apiece.
In game one, UVA will counter with Noah Murdock who’s 2-2 on the year with a 4.40 ERA. Saturday, it’ll be Griff McGarry who’s struggled with walks on the year giving up 38 in 37.1 winnings of work. Finally, freshman Mike Vasil is on the bump Sunday coming in with a 1-3 record and 4.95 ERA.
Due to weather, the two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 12 P.M. and finish the series Sunday at 1 P.M. If you’re in town to celebrate, make sure to get over to the ballpark and cheer on the Hoos. If you can’t make it to the Hook, all three games will be on ACC Network Extra, Sunday’s games will be broadcast on WINA.