Virginia baseball heads down to Chapel Hill, N.C., this weekend with mixed emotions. On the one hand, they are riding the wave of satisfaction that comes with just having beaten in-state arch-rival Virginia Tech. On the other hand, they are burdened with nine losses in their last 12 games and the injury of sophomore Eric Christensen, who hurt his leg during the Cavaliers' 7-4 win against the Hokies on Wednesday.
The Cavaliers now hit the road to face North Carolina (21-17, 3-9 ACC) in a three-game ACC series today, Saturday and Sunday. If Virginia (18-18, 5-10) can reawaken its offense and put the bat on the ball, they should be able to hit the Tar Heels up for a slew of runs. North Carolina has been unable to keep opponents at bay lately and has surrendered 76 runs in their last seven games.
"They've been giving up some runs," Virginia coach Dennis Womack said. "We just have to make sure they give up some runs to us."
Virginia's offense had been atypically silent - in a one-run loss to Wake Forest on Sunday and a four-run loss to Liberty on Tuesday - until it managed to explode for seven runs Wednesday. Chris Sweet and Hunter Wyant both contributed with 3-for-5 performances and combined for three RBIs. Dan Street and Robert Newton put a run apiece on the board as well.
But the Tar Heels, with a 16-6 home record, are tough to beat at Cary C. Boshamer Stadium, though. Infielders Russ Adams and Chris Maples lead North Carolina offensively.
Maples, batting .281, spent the summer playing with the Durham Braves of the Costal Plain League and led the team with 18 RBIs. He has been crucial to the North Carolina offense this season and boasts a team-high 34 RBIs. Adams is hitting .348, the second-highest average on the squad and has started every game for the Tar Heels.
Sophomore Chad Prosser boasts the highest Carolina average at .383. As a freshman last season he started 60 of 61 games and continues to be a major factor for the Tar Heels this season with 31 runs scored and a .519 slugging percentage. Collectively, North Carolina hitters have racked up 265 runs and 565 total bases.
"They can swing the bat, so we'll have to throw the ball really well," Womack said.
The Carolina club has talent on the mound as well. Junior right-hander Ralph Roberts picked up ACC pitcher of the week honors April 9 for his two conference wins against N.C. State and Maryland. Roberts, who will start on Saturday, is 2-0 on the season with a 3.00 earned run average. He also is Carolina's starter in right field and carries a .320 batting average and 26 RBIs.
Senior Jason Howell, a transfer student in his first year with the Carolina program, has been aggressive for the Tar Heels both as a starter and out of the bullpen. He is 5-2 on the year and has picked up three saves as well. Howell has a 3.78 ERA over 18 appearances.
Though their overall numbers are solid, Carolina pitchers have struggled of late. They surrendered 12 and 15 runs in two losses to Maryland last weekend. If the Cavaliers can pull out the kind of offense they did against Virginia Tech, there will be intense ACC baseball in Chapel Hill this weekend.
Wyant summarized the Cavaliers' task concisely: "We just have to go down there and play hard"
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