Ernie Clement (Fr., Rochester, N.Y.) hit a two-run, walk-off single to cap a three-run ninth-inning rally that gave the Virginia baseball team a 5-4 victory over Maryland Saturday afternoon at Davenport Field in Game 2 of the NCAA Charlottesville Super Regional. The hit punched the Cavaliers’ fourth trip to the College World Series as UVa won the first two games to clinch the best-of-three series.
It was the Cavaliers’ second come-from-behind win in as many days, as UVa used a five-run eighth inning to rally for a 5-3 win over the Terrapins in Game 1 on Friday. Virginia returns to Omaha for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in seven years. UVa reached the CWS Finals last season also also advanced to the College World Series in 2009 and 2011.
The Cavaliers (39-22) will play either No. 8 national seed Missouri State or Arkansas on Saturday at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. The Bears and Razorbacks play a decisive Game 3 Sunday in Fayetteville, Ark. The full schedule for the CWS will be announced Monday.
The Cavaliers trailed 4-2 as they headed into the bottom of the ninth, as the Terrapins (42-24) were three outs away from forcing a third and decisive game. The rally began with UVa loading the bases with no outs. Robert Galligan, who had been pitching in relief since the first inning, allowed a single by Robbie Coman (Jr., Lake Worth, Fla.), sandwiched between walks to Pavin Smith (Fr., Jupiter, Fla.) and Joe McCarthy (Jr., Scranton, Pa.), before making way for closer Kevin Mooney. Kevin Doherty (Jr., Laytonsville, Md.) drew a walk to force in Smith. Clement followed with his game-winning single to left, driving in Thomas Woodruff (Sr., Clifton, Va.), who pinch-ran for Coman, and McCarthy.
Clement was one of three Cavaliers to have two hits on the day, joining Daniel Pinero (So., Toronto, Ontario) and Matt Thaiss (So., Jackson, N.J.). Kevin Martir and Anthony Papio each had two hits to lead the Terrapins.
Virginia starter Brandon Waddell (Jr., Houston, Texas) pitched eight innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits over eight innings of work. Alec Bettinger (So., Woodbridge, Va.) earned the win and improved to 5-5 after delivering a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning.
After Maryland starter Ryan Selmer lasted just a third of an inning, allowing two runs on four hits, Galligan (4-5) pitched 7 2/3 innings of relief, but took the loss. After shutting out the Cavaliers since the first inning, the three runs he allowed were the three runners he left on base when he left in the ninth inning.
Maryland took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. LaMonte Wade drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a two-out single by Nick Cieri.
Virginia answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. With one out UVa strung together four straight hits. Pinero singled and scored as Thaiss followed with a double down the left-field line. Kenny Towns (Sr., Burke, Va.) delivered an RBI single to score Thaiss and put the Cavaliers ahead while spelling the end of the day for Selmer.
The Terrapins drew even with a run in the top of the fourth. Papio had a leadoff double and came around to score on Wade’s sacrifice bunt. The following inning, Maryland took a 3-2 lead. Kevin Smith led off the fifth with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single by Martir.
Maryland pushed the advantage to 4-2 in the top of the eighth. Martir led off with a single and scored on Papio’s two-out triple.
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Chris Graham
