Charlottesville, VA (cvillerightnow.com): Last weekend was quite fun for the Hoos and their fans, running the Pitt Panthers out of town on a rail 18-0 in 7 innings in the rubber game of ACC action between the two clubs this past Sunday.  Aside from the offensive explosion, Tomas Valincius took a perfect game into the fifth inning against a Panthers’ squad that otherwise had paced the Hoos through Saturday’s doubleheader.  It’s all coming up roses for Brian O’Connor and his band of merry Cavaliers.   

Now, with a looming series against a wounded Florida State team this weekend in Florida, Virginia seeks to close out its homestand with a revenge victory over the Liberty Flames tonight at Disharoon Park.  The Flames bested the Hoos 5-3 back on the 25th of March in a frustrating contest in Lynchburg.  Liberty’s talented young hitting core got the better of Virginia’s bullpen with middle inning, station-to-station RBIs to nullify Virginia’s big bats.   Slugging first baseman Jaxon Sorenson (11 homers to lead the team), speedy middle infielder Tanner Marsh (11-14 in steal attempts), and freshman five-tool phenom Cal Early (team batting leader at .316) remain steady threats at the plate.  Coming off their toughest series loss of the year, getting swept at home by conference foe Western Kentucky, the ball will go to righty Cooper Harrington.  The freshman is looking for his third win of the year, in 20.2 innings worked this season he has struck out 18 batters and walked 12, pitching to a 5.66 ERA.  He’s only pitched for more than three innings twice this season, once and most impressively against Duke back on 2/26 in a winning effort for the Flames.   

It will likely be a staff day on both sides, as veteran reliever Kevin Jaxel will open the game for the Hoos.  Out of the pen, Jaxel is pitching to a 2.51 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched.  He’s struck out 14 batters and has walked seven.  Coach Brian O’Connor will be going with experience to lead off what will be a big test for the bullpen today.  They will need all the confidence and control they can muster against an exceptional group of hitters coming up this weekend.   

 hat also sets up an intriguing storyline this weekend with Bradley Hodges, who pitched brilliantly in six innings of work against VCU in his last appearance.  The third-year lefty, recovering from season ending surgery in 2022, has quietly brought his ERA down to 1.17 as Virginia’s reliable midweek opener.  With O’Connor likely seeing Hodges leave just a bit too early in some of his starts, and his endurance now at a satisfactory position, perhaps Hodges may be on for a weekend start against FSU as Jaxel now takes his place as midweek opener.  We will see tonight.  UVA First Pitch will precede the game’s beginning by 15 minutes, tune in to WINA for pregame coverage with Marshall LeMert, before the game begins at 6:00 with Adam Hawes on the call.