The Towson baseball team found itself on the wrong side of a series sweep against No. 2 Arizona State earlier this season. And the competition will not be any easier today when Towson arrives in Charlottesville for a two-game midweek series against Virginia - the top-ranked team in the nation.
Though the Tigers (5-18, 2-4 CAA) have gained invaluable experience playing against stiff competition, they have failed to tally any significant victories, losing every weekend series they have competed in this season.
More specifically, the Tiger pitching staff has struggled to keep runners off the bases and runs off the scoreboard, allowing an astounding .341 opponents' batting average and boasting a 7.80 ERA. These statistics are music to the Cavaliers' ears, as the potent Virginia offense will look to improve upon their tough 2-1 series win against then-No. 5 Clemson last weekend. Several players who have struggled lately will try to regain their stride against their midweek opponent.
Sophomore third baseman and clean-up hitter Steven Proscia, who began the season with the hottest bat on the team with 27 RBIs through the first 15 games, continued to struggle through a 3-for-31 slump at the plate.
"That's the game of baseball - if it wasn't that way, everybody would be hitting .500 all the time," coach Brian O'Connor said. "A baseball season is made of individual hot streaks and then going cold."
In addition to Virginia's difficulties at the plate, the Cavaliers (20-4, 7-2 ACC) struggled on the mound during game one of Saturday's doubleheader. Freshman pitcher Whit Mayberry and senior reliever Neal Davis surrendered six runs - three unearned caused by senior shortstop Tyler Cannon's two errors - resulting in the Cavaliers' sole loss of the series. Towson's top-heavy lineup, which generally struggles at the plate with an overall .275 batting average, may provide the bullpen several opportunities to improve upon past performances. Moreover, probable freshman and sophomore starters Branden Kline and Will Roberts, who enter the series with 2-0 records and a 3.24 and 3.72 ERA, respectively, will have a chance to both pad their statistics and continue to bolster the Cavalier rotation.
And despite some of the struggles displayed by his team during the weekend, O'Connor still recognizes the importance of the Clemson series win in regards to ACC play.
"Clemson's one of the top teams in this league - they proved it with their ability this weekend," O'Connor said. "If you want to have a chance to win the regular season title, when you're at home you've got to win the series. Now it'll be three weeks into the ACC season, and we've swept one and won two series against some pretty big opponents."
Indeed, though it wasn't always clean play, Virginia still managed to pull out the series victory. One player who continues to produce at the plate is Cannon, who is currently batting for a .402 average and riding a career-high 16-game hitting streak.
"I'm just trying to keep it simple," Cannon said. "Of course, some [hits] seem to have some eyes that are kind of finding the holes there, but I'm just trying to keep it simple, just trying to hit the ball, square it up hard."
For some of Virginia's other players, however, the midweek series will provide an opportunity to find their strides with an upcoming series against N.C. State looming.
"What separates players is when they have tough weekends or tough stretches - do they make adjustments to get it turned around?" O'Connor said. "That's the important thing - they'll make adjustments and they'll be better."
The Cavaliers will host Towson today and tomorrow at Davenport Field at 5 p.m.
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