#4 Virginia baseball opens 2016 season in Myrtle Beach

Reigning NCAA champions will play Kent State, Appalachian State and No. 23 Coastal Carolina

Virginia Cavaliers (0-0)
Probable Starting Rotation (2015 stats)
Fri. – Jr. RHP Connor Jones (7-3, 3.19 ERA)
Sat. – Fr. LHP Daniel Lynch (–, – ERA)
Sun. – So. RHP Tommy Doyle (1-1, 3.47 ERA)

Opponents’ Probable Starting Pitchers (2015 stats)
Fri. (Kent State) – Jr. LHP Eric Lauer (5-4, 1.98 ERA)
Sat. (Appalachian State) – Fr. RHP Seth Hardin (–, – ERA)
Sun. (Coastal Carolina) – TBA

The Virginia baseball team starts its 2016 season this weekend as it competes in the Caravelle Resort Tournament in Myrtle Beach. Ranked between No. 4 and No. 13 in the preseason polls, the Cavaliers will battle Kent State (4 p.m. Friday) and Appalachian State (4 p.m. Saturday) at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach before taking on No. 23 Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m. Sunday at Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C.

 

Broadcast Information

The audio of all three games will air on VirginiaSports.com and is available through a Cavaliers Live subscription. In the Charlottesville area, WINA 1070-AM and 98.9 FM will have the radio broadcasts of the Friday and Saturday games.

The video of the Sunday game against Coastal Carolina will stream online on ESPN3.

A link to live statistics also can be found on VirginiaSports.com.

 

Things to Know

• Virginia has 15 freshmen on the roster – most in Brian O’Connor’s UVA tenure.
• Virginia has three preseason All-Americans (Jones, Smith, Thaiss).
• UVA catchers threw out 42.1 percent of potential base stealers in 2015.
• UVA played in Myrtle Beach last season from Feb. 27-March 1 when inclement weather prompted a move from Charlottesville.
• UVA was 31-14 last year in neutral-site and true road games (18-6 N, 13-8 R).

 

Reigning Champions Begin 2016 Season

This marks the start of the 128th season of Virginia Baseball. Virginia comes off the most special season among its previous 127 after the Cavaliers captured their first national championship in 2015.

UVA was 44-24 overall last season but caught fire in the postseason, going 10-2 in the NCAA tournament. The Cavaliers defeated Arkansas in the College World Series before winning two of three games against Florida and then two of three against Vanderbilt in the CWS Finals.

 

Noting the Opening Weekend

Virginia is 30-7-1 in opening weekends during Brian O’Connor’s 12 years as head coach. The Cavaliers swept a three-game series last year to open the season at East Carolina.

UVA is opening the season in Myrtle Beach for the second time in the last five years. In 2012, UVA went 1-1-1 at the Caravelle Resort Tournament, falling to Boston College (5-3), downing Coastal Carolina (9-3) and tying James Madison (4-4 in 8-inning, rain-shortened game).

 

Noting Kent State

The Golden Flashes are the favorites to win the 2016 Mid-American Conference championship. Kent State was 31-22 last year, including an 18-9 league mark. Slated to start Friday, junior LHP Eric Lauer was 5-4 with a 1.98 ERA last year. Named to the 2016 Golden Spikes Award Watch List, Lauer struck out 103 and limited batters to a .203 average in 86 1/3 innings.

 

Noting Appalachian State

Appalachian State posted a 17-36 record in 2016, including an 8-21 mark in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers return 17 letterwinners, including five position starters.

 

Noting Coastal Carolina

Led by Preseason All-America shortstop Michael Paez, Coastal Carolina is ranked as high as No. 23 in the preseason polls. The Chanticleers reached the NCAA tournament last season, finishing with a 39-20 record and playing in the College Station Regional. Paez batted .326 with eight home runs, 42 RBI and 16 stolen bases.

 

Up Next

Virginia returns to Davenport Field Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. to face VMI in the Cavaliers’ 2016 home opener.