Dear Old U.Va.

Carraway Leads Hoos to 1st Super Regional

Tuesday, June 02 2009 by Tiki

0.45!

That is the ERA of Virginia’s starters over the 3 games in the regional. Following dominating performances by Robert Morey and Danny Hultzen, senior Andrew Carraway matched his teammates’ performances with 7 innings of 4 hit, 1 run ball.

The Hoos struggled to score in the early innings, recording two hits each in the first and second innings, but failing to get anybody home. In the 4^th, however, they broke through on an RBI double from regional MVP Franco Valdez. Cal-Irvine would tie it up in the bottom of the 4^th, the only run allowed by a Virginia starter all weekend.

Following a scoreless 5^th inning, Valdez came through again. This time, recording an RBI triple scoring Hultzen from second. The Hoos would not relinquish the lead again.

Carraway would work out of jams in the 6^th and 7^th, before ceding to Kevin Arico, who retired all 6 batters he faced in recording his 11^th save of the season. The Hoos would tack on 2 unneeded insurance runs in the top of the ninth, off back to back RBI triples by Jarrett Parker and Tyler Cannon.

The Hoos win the so-called “Region of Death” in dominating fashion, allowing just 2 runs all weekend, while scoring 14 times.  Up next is the Super Regional, in Oxford, Mississippi against the Ole Miss Rebels. 

The Rebels finished the season 43-18, and won their regional despite losing on Sunday to the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky.  The Rebels are led on the mound by Drew Pomeranz and Nathan Baker.  At the plate, they are led by SS Tim Ferguson and 1B Matt Smith.  The Rebels have a deep starting rotation, and a lineup full of guys batting over .300, so the Hoos had better be ready.