:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/881146/GYI0060906443.jpg)
The Virginia Cavaliers kick off their NCAA baseball tournament regional on Friday, with a morning game against the Army Black Knights in Charlottesville. Virginia are a No. 1 seed of the tournament and hosts of the double-elimination regional. Army won the Patriot League tournament title by defeating Holy Cross in the championship series of their conference tournament to earn the right to play in the NCAA tournament.
In the region's other opening game, No. 2 Oklahoma takes on No. 3 Appalachian State. The double-elimination tournament gives the big schools some margin for error, but both UVA and OU are expected to win their opening games to force Army and Appalachian State into an elimination game.
Virginia is relying on a big contingent of top-notch freshmen to carry them to Omaha. Oklahoma will be leaning heavily on MLB draftees Damien Magnifico and Steven Okert. If Oklahoma and Virginia do get through the two smaller schools, they'll face off in a rematch of the 2010 Super Regional, where the Sooners pulled off a big upset in Charlottesville.
SB Nation DC is your source for DC metro area sports news and analysis. For more on University of Virginia sports, visit Streaking the Lawn.