The University of Virginia baseball team is one win away from advancing to the 2011 College World Series in Omaha, NE. UVA, despite an uncharacteristically mediocre start from star hurler Danny Hultzen and a 90 minute mid-game rain delay, defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters 6-0 Saturday in Game 1 of the Charlottesville Super Regional at Davenport Field.
Hultzen, fresh off being drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the #2 pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and three walks, striking out three and hitting one batter. As noted above, not what college baseball fans expect to see from the Cavaliers ace, but it didn't hurt his ball club.
Despite the subpar outing, the bats provided plenty of support to make this a relatively easy win for Virginia. First baseman Jared King was the offensive star for the Cavaliers, hitting a three run homer in the sixth inning that would be the nail in the coffin for UC Irvine. King finished three for four at the plate. Teammates Stephen Proscia, Chris Taylor and Kenny Swab all chipped in two hits a piece for a Cavaliers attack that has now outscored their opponents 35-3 in four NCAA tournament games.
Game 2 of the Super Regional is 1pm Sunday on ESPNU. A second Cavaliers win over the Anteaters in this best-of-three format sends Virginia to Omaha and the College World Series for the second time in three years.