Virginia vs St. John's - NCAA Regional Baseball Recap

Virginia 5, St. John's 3 - Virginia advances to super regionals

The Virginia Cavaliers can breathe a sigh of relief... at least for the next few days.

The Cavaliers, one of the top five teams in the country according to the national rankings, fought off a pesky St. John's club that defeated them the night before. By bouncing back to clip the Red Storm in a well-pitched passion play at Davenport Field, UVA advanced to the super regionals of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The Cavaliers will meet Oklahoma next weekend in the Super Regionals.

Keith Werman went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the Virginia offense. Phil Gosselin and Steven Proscia also added a pair of hits for the Cavaliers.
UVA starter Branden Kline went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits to record the win for Virginia, improving to 5-0 on the season. Yet, while Kline got the win and the glory, it was reliever Kevin Arico who really earned his stripes for the home team, which sent a partisan crowd home happy. Arico pitched the final 3 2/3 innings without allowing a single run to his Big East opponent. Arico got not just a save, but a ticket to the next weekend of the college baseball postseason. Moreover, Arico's effort will keep the Virginia bullpen fresh for the upcoming best-of-three series with Oklahoma.

Kyle Hansen allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3 1/3 innings to take the loss for St. John's, dropping to 8-3 on the year.

This game was not defined by uproarious plays that stick in the mind's eye. Rather, Virginia played the small-ball peck-and-poke style which also worked for Vanderbilt in the Louisville Regional.

The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Gosselin singled to lead off the game and Dan Grovatt reached on an error to put runners at the corners with one out. Grovatt was thrown out stealing second, but Gosselin was able to steal home on the play to give Virginia the lead. Virginia added a run in the bottom of the second when Franco Valdes reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on Gosselin's two-out RBI single.

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St. John's cut the Virginia lead to 2-1 in the top of the third, as Paul Karmas hit a solo homer to lead off the frame. The Cavaliers - as good teams will do - came right back. UVA manufactured a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-1. Werman led off with a single. He stole second and then moved to third on a groundout before scoring on Proscia's sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the fourth, Virginia extended its lead to 4-1. John Hicks drew a leadoff walk and stole second. After moving to third on a groundout, he scored on Valdes' RBI single.

The Red Storm scored two runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 4-3. The bases were loaded with one out when Arico replaced Kline to face Jeremy Baltz. Arico began his stellar night on the mound by getting Baltz to hit a grounder to second, but Baltz beat the relay throw on the attempted double play turn to score a run and keep the inning alive. Jimmy Parque followed with an RBI single to bring St. John's within one run.

Virginia extended its lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, giving Arico needed insurance plus the mental relief of knowing he had a slightly larger margin to work with. The Cavaliers loaded the bases with no outs before Jarrett Parker's sacrifice fly scored Werman. Yes, a double play followed to get the Red Storm out of the inning while allowing just one run, but the Cavs still did create a small degree of distance. When Arico got SJU catcher Josh Daniel to fly out to left in the top of the ninth, an impressive relief performance - like this regional - was over.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus... and there's also a date with Oklahoma in the NCAA Super Regionals this Saturday.

By: Matt Zemek
ACC Fans Staff Writer