Edited by Chris Graham
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Virginia advanced to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, downing St. John’s 5-3 Monday evening in the championship game of the Charlottesville Regional at Davenport Field. 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.
Branden Kline went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits to record the win for Virginia, improving to 5-0 on the season. Kevin Arico pitched the final 3.2 innings to post his 17th save of the season. Kyle Hansen allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3.1 innings to take the loss for St. John’s, dropping to 8-3 on the year.
The Cavaliers (50-12) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Phil Gosselin singled to lead off the game and Dan Grovatt reached on an error to set up first and third 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. Franco Valdes reached on a fielders choice and later scored on Gosselin’s two-out RBI single.
St. John’s (43-20) cut the lead in half, 2-1, as Paul Karmas hit a solo homer to lead off the top of the third.
The Cavaliers manufactured a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-1. Keith Werman led off with a single. He stole second and moved to third on a groundout. He scored on Steven Proscia’s sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the fourth, Virginia extended its lead to 4-1. Hicks drew a leadoff walk and stole second. After moving to third on a groundout, she 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. He got Baltz to hit a grounder to second, but Baltz beat the relay throw on the attempted double play to score a run and keep the inning alive. Jimmy Parque followed with an RBI single to close St. John’s to within one.
Virginia extended its lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh. The Cavaliers loaded the bases with no outs before Jarrett Parker’s sacrifice fly scored Werman. But a double play followed to get the Red Storm out of the inning allowing just one run.
The Cavaliers set a new school record with their 50th win of the season.
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