It was nearly a Cinderella upset of epic proportions. With two outs to go in the ninth inning, No. 1-ranked Virginia was improbably trailing unranked UC-Irvine, 2-1, with a berth in the College World Series on the line. But then, the Cavaliers went on an improbable rally to win by a final score of 3-2.
Chris Taylor gave Virginia the win with a base hit up the middle with the bases loaded, scoring two runs in walk-off fashion. Virginia began the rally when David Coleman hit a single up the middle, and he advanced to second when Jared King rifled a ball off the pitcher. Reed Gragnan then walked on four pitches to load the bases, setting up the game-winning run.
Virginia's win means they have advanced to their second-ever College World Series. They will next take on the California Golden Bears, another unseeded team.
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