If the Virginia baseball team (19-21, 6-12 ACC) wants to secure a winning record before hitting the road for the closing leg of its regular season, this weekend is its last chance. The Cavaliers get a final home-field crack at the ACC on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when they host Maryland (13-24, 3-11).
"It's a huge matchup for us," Virginia coach Dennis Womack said. "This is kind of a key deal. It's our last ACC series at home, and we need to play well. This is a big deal for us."
On paper, Virginia should have no problem with the Terrapins, the conference-doormats. But with the troubles that have been plaguing the Cavaliers recently, no game is a sure thing.
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Virginia has dropped 11 of its last 14 games, including Tuesday's 4-3 decision against James Madison. Despite the three-for-five, two-run offensive effort of Dan Street, the Cavaliers only mustered three runs against a mediocre Dukes club.
Virginia finally showed signs of life Wednesday against Virginia Tech, however, blazing by the Hokies, 9-3. Five Cavalier hitters blasted solo homeruns, including two from Street. John Benick, Mark Rueffert and Street even combined for back-to-back-to-back homers in the fourth inning to hand Virginia a lead it did not relinquish. Freshman pitcher Joseph Koshansky went the distance on the mound, his second complete game of the year.
Even if the Cavaliers can't get their spotty offense together against Maryland, solid pitching should keep them in the game. Senior left-hander Brandon Creswell, fresh off his second week this month as ACC pitcher of the week, is slated to start Saturday's game. Creswell earned the honor for his role in Virginia's wins over Virginia Tech and North Carolina last week. He has pitched a team-high 71.1 innings and leads the club with 55 strikeouts. He also carries a 6-2 record on the season and a 3.41 earned run average.
Street, who has the lowest ERA on the team at 2.72, is scheduled to start Friday for the Cavaliers. He has held opposing batters to a .241 average in seven appearances this year.
If Virginia's season has been a rough ride, Maryland's has been downright brutal. The Terps have garnered just three conference wins all year and have fallen to the likes of Mount St. Mary's and The Citadel. They finally were able to put together some runs Wednesday, taking a doubleheader from Maryland-Eastern Shore, but their 5-16 record on the road does not bode well for them in Charlottesville.
As streaky as the Cavaliers have been, this weekend's series is crucial if they don't want to see their season deteriorate in the final few weeks. A strong offensive showing against Maryland would give them confidence as they move closer to the ACC tournament, where they will be up against powerhouses like Florida State and Georgia Tech. More than nostalgia is at stake in the Cavaliers' final homestand.
"Three wins - that's what I want," Rueffert said. "That would make my day as a senior. Just three wins"
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