Charlottesville, VA (cvillerightnow.com): Virginia Baseball has dug itself out of the rut it was in throughout the month of March.  A three-game sweep of the Stanford Cardinal and a slugfest victory against the Old Dominion Monarchs this past week has the Hoos riding high on a four-game win streak.  Virginia is sitting in 10th place in the ACC as they enter play this weekend. Their opportunity to climb the table will hinge on the result of three games in Raleigh against the NC State Wolfpack.   

The Wolfpack, an Omaha team last year, are 19-10 on the year overall and 5-4 in conference play.    Like Virginia, they have not performed up the lofty expectations set for them in the preseason and been beaten by some teams that they’ve won the tale of the tape over (e.g. Richmond, USC Upstate, and Coastal Carolina).  That being said, even after losing several senior talents in the draft, their longest win streak of the season stretched to 11 games before a 20-8 defeat to the Virginia Tech Hokies on March 15th.  NC State’s hitters have shone through a mediocre performance by its pitching staff.  Virginia is hitting slightly better as a team (.298 to .285), and its pitchers are almost equal in their performance, both teams have ERAs at 4.75.  NC State’s pitchers edge the Hoos in strikeouts though, Virginia hurlers have punched out 271 to their opponents’ 286.  The Wolfpack are the slightly stronger homerun hitting team though, they have hit 38 to Virginia’s 24.  They are a top-heavy pitching staff, their starters have ERAs on the higher side but are excellent strikeout hurlers, and they boast a strong lineup to boot, with all but one of its regular starters hitting over .260 and only one who gets on base less than 37%.  There are two .300 hitters to deal with in senior infielder Chris McHugh and junior outfielder Josh Hogue (both of whom also have hit five homeruns).  Two of their starters have broken the mark of 50 strikeouts up to this point in the season as well, junior lefty Dominic Fritton (who also has a 2.16 ERA), and sophomore lefty Ryan Marohn, who are due to pitch this weekend Friday and Sunday respectively.  Their bullpen is light and a little suspect, but in college Baseball, there are few units that are not.   

As for Virginia, their bullpen has been taxed recently, so any length out of their three starters against a good NC State hitting core will be crucial.  On the hitting side, the Hoos are doing a lot right in their plate appearances.  Their at-bats are long, patient, and no matter the result, often earn them baserunners.  Should they continue with what they’re already doing, we could be talking next week about a three-game sweep.  Make no mistake though, it will not be easy. 

Jay Woolfolk tangles with Fritton on Friday.  Evan Blanco, as he continues to rehab, will get the ball on Saturday against Heath Andrews.  Finally, Tomas Valincius will battle Marohn.  Games begin at 6:00pm Friday, and 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Pregame coverage will begin 15 minutes before gametime right here on Cvillerightnow.com on Friday and Sunday this weekend.  Saturday, Virginia Lacrosse will take to the airwaves on WINA at 4:00pm.