Cavs Dominate Regional, Move on to Face Anteaters
Monday, June 06 2011 by Tiki
101 PAs. 18 H. 3 ER. 42K.
That is the total pitching for the Hoos this weekend. The opposition batted .189 for the 3 games. The Hoos, on the other hand, scored 29 runs, and batted .366 over the same period. Add in the 13 walks, and the Hoos had an On Base Percentage of over .400 for the weekend.
That, my friends, is utter domination. This is the kind of thing that isn’t normally seen at this time of year.
In Friday’s opener, Will Roberts got things off to a great start by striking out 14 Midshipmen in a complete game 6-0 victory. The Hoos scored twice in the first, and never looked back.
On Saturday evening, the Hoos faced the St John’s Red Storm, who gave them some trouble in last year’s regional. Not so, this year. Regional MVP and presumptive top 5 pick Danny Hultzen picked up right where Roberts left off, by striking out 12 Johnnies over 7 innings. Whit Mayberry tossed the final 2 innings, picking up another 2 Ks. The Hoos pounded out 14 hits, including a 2 run first inning HR for Stephen Proscia which would provide all the offense the Hoos needed.
In the finale, the Hoos faced the East Carolina Pirates, who they already swept earlier this season. This time, it was senior Tyler Wilon’s turn on the mound, and he did not disappoint. Wilson went into the 7th inning, fanning 7, and giving up just 1 ER. Kyle Crockett, Brandon Kline and Cody Winiarski combined for 2 and 2/3 inning of 1 hit relief, striking out a combined 7 more batters. At the plate, the Hoos were again led by Proscia with 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBIs. In total, the Hoos pounded out 17 hits and 13 runs. After scoring 5 times in the first, all with 2 outs, the rest of the game was a laugher.
The Hoos will now spend the week resting and preparing for the Anteaters of Cal-Irvine. UCI was the 3 seed in their regional, hosted by UCLA. Irvine won all 3 if its regional games, outscoring their opponents by a measly 20-12 margin.
Cal-Irvine Preview
The Anteaters managed to avoid UCLA’s top 2 starters, both expected to be first round picks in tonight’s MLB draft. They will, however, not be able to avoid the Hoos starting pitching. They will, mostly likely, be facing Danny Hultzen in his usual Friday Night spot. Tyler Wilson should be on the mound on Saturday. Roberts would go on Sunday, if necessary.
The Anteaters are not a team to be taken lightly. Their baseball program has a long history of success. As a team, they batted .299 on the season, and scored over 6 runs per game (the Hoos scored over 7 per game). Like the Hoos, the strength of Cal-Irvine is their pitching. Friday night’s starter is most likely junior Matt Summers (11-2, 1.72 ERA). Sophomore Matt Whitehouse (4-0, 2.14 ERA) will likely get the Saturday nod. If necessary, their Sunday starter is probably freshman Andrew Thurman (3-3, 3.91). It is possible, considering the gravity of the game, that they will go with junior Crosby Slaught (7-2, 3.97) over the freshman. Thurman has been getting the Sunday nod late in the season.
On offense, the Anteaters are led by senior 3B Brian Hernandez and senior LF Drew Hillman. Hernandez batted .351 on the season. Hernandez may also pitch out of the pen. Hillman batted .336 and led the team with 5 HRs and 50 RBI.
The Hoos will have an advantage on the mound, albeit a slight one, considering the pitching talent of the Anteaters. At the plate, the Hoos are simply a better and deeper lineup. And the Hoos will also have the advantage on the basepaths, as Irvine just doesn’t run very much. Irvine does have a very good defensive ballclub, so the Hoos will have to play fundamental baseball.
Obviously, anything can happen on the diamond, as Hoos fans can attest to after last year’s Super Regional. Irvine is playing well of late, and will give it their all. I just think the Hoos are too much. I think the Hoos win Friday and Saturday, and move on to Omaha.