We kept rolling this past week as we went 4-0 against two quality opponents in VMI and Delaware.

It’s always good to play tight midweek games because it better prepares you for what is to come on the weekend. VMI came in and threw some quality arms at us with velocity that we had not seen for a few games. After the Keydets tied it up at 3 in the fourth, we didn’t look back after plating two more runs with a Brandon Guyer single and a Sean Doolittle home run. Andrew Carraway came out of the ‘pen and struck out seven over three innings of work. Michael Schwimer and Casey Lambert nailed down the back half of the game to preserve our 11th win, 5-3.

Over the weekend, Delaware’s potent offense visited Davenport Field. On Friday afternoon, we came out swinging the bats well and put up 11 runs. Offensively, we were led by Tyler Cannon, who knocked in six runs with a 2-for-4 effort - a great day for the freshman who will be counted on heavily as the season progresses.

On Saturday, another double-digit run total propelled us to a 10-4 win over the Blue Hens. Patrick Wingfield hit a grand slam to deep left to cap a two-out rally in the third. Jacob Thompson had another quality start, striking out eight over six innings of work.

On Championship Sunday, we looked to go for the sweep and cap a perfect 12-game home stand. Sundays are big in college baseball because on Sunday you have the ability to go for a sweep, prevent a sweep or win the rubber game and take the series.

It is also typically the day on which championships are won – ACC Tournament, Regional, Super Regional and World Series. The game took on a different tone from the previous two as we won in dramatic fashion on a Brandon Marsh walk-off single that scored Mike Mitchell.

Unable to notch a key hit with runners on base, we relied on Marsh’s heroics and another solid day for the bullpen as Carraway, Alex Smith, Jake Rule and Schwimer shut down an offense that led the nation in home runs and doubles last year.

We’re on Spring Break this week, and for us, it’s a welcome break from school. It allows us to re-focus and re-energize as we head into league play this weekend at Wake Forest.

With James Madison on Tuesday (editor’s note - the Cavs won 6-5 to extend their winning streak to 13 games) and an off day scheduled for Wednesday - we will work out Thursday morning and bus down to Wake following practice.

This is when it really starts to get fun, and we’re anxious to see what this team can do.

Go Hoos!

Jeremy Farrell

(photo courtesy of Virginia Media Relations Office)