Charlottesville, VA (cvillerightnow.com): Exams loom, a series of tests far more difficult than any challenge that could be presented on the diamond for the Virginia Baseball team.   Before they take their exam break, two home games remain.  Tonight’s contest is against a familiar foe, its game two of this year’s iteration of the I-64 series between the Hoos and the VCU Rams.  The Rams have won fourteen games this year, but they have lost 29, including one to the Hoos back on April eighth.  The last time these two teams faced one another, the Hoos shut the Rams out in a seven inning, run-rule victory that saw them win by 13 runs.  

Bradley Hodges, stunning over the weekend against Georgia Tech, was near unhittable against VCU, and clued us in to his potential as a starter.  Hodges just pitched a few days ago, but tonight’s starter for the Hoos is another pitcher looking to grow his pedigree as a starter, sophomore righthander Bryson Moore.  Moore has not pitched for the Hoos since his start on March 2nd against the Dartmouth Big Green that ended in a Virginia triumph.  Moore has struck out 14 in 11.1 innings pitched, averaging 3.18 runs per game.  Moore will have a sharp offense working for him all evening long and will hopefully be able to tune himself to be useful down the stretch for UVA as playoffs loom. 

Meanwhile, the Rams have won just four games in between this game and their last meeting with UVA.   Though this has been a season to forget, it has not bereft of talented players on the roster.  Their best hitter is behind the plate, in the person of standout first-year catcher Jacob Lee.  Lee’s freshman season has been near perfect from a statistical perspective, leading the team in all offensive categories save for doubles.  The numbers speak for themselves, 12 homeruns, 50 RBIs, and 46 hits, while starting in all but one game for the Rams this year.  Outfielders Trent Adelman and Seth Wretchan are the team’s base thieves.  Second-year Adelman is 11-15 in steals, and grad-transfer Wretchan leads the squad going 15-18.  Both men have on-base percentages over 40%.   Several pitchers have tried their hand at opening and/or starting games for the Rams this season with limited success.  Bryden McCollough is making his third start on the year, and is currently pitching at an 11.25 ERA in eight innings pitched, he has walked 12 and struck out 10.   

The numbers and circumstances do paint a picture looking ahead tonight’s outcome, however, the Hoos have gotten into a bind taking their midweek opponents lightly before.  Despite a stellar series victory over the weekend, and a break coming up, they need to play their best Baseball tonight, and every game going forward to ensure that they will have a chance to play Baseball in June on the bigger stage.  Their offense is hitting their stride, and their stretch-run pitching staff is taking shape, every half inning is important in assessing what the best possible permutations and strategies are to win ballgames.  First pitch is this evening from Disharoon Park at 8:00pm, WINA pre-game coverage will commence at 7:45 with UVA First Pitch.  You can listen live on the radio or right here on Cvillerightnow.com.