VIRGINIA CAVALIERS (42-23)
Monday Probable Starting Pitcher
So. RHP Connor Jones (7-2, 3.05 ERA)
VANDERBILT COMMODORES (50-19)
Monday Probable Starting Pitcher
Jr. RHP Carson Fulmer (13-2, 1.95 ERA)
OMAHA, Neb. – The Virginia baseball team competes for a national championship this week as it takes on Vanderbilt in the College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. The best-of-three series is a rematch of a fantastic 2014 CWS Finals, won by the Commodores in three games. The series consists of games Monday, Tuesday and – if necessary – Wednesday. Each game starts at 8 p.m. ET.
The Rematch: Virginia and Vanderbilt Battle in CWS Finals
Virginia and Vanderbilt are meeting for the second straight year in the CWS Finals. Vanderbilt holds a 4-1 edge in the all-time series, with four of the games coming in NCAA tournament play (VU 3-1). Seven active Cavaliers competed last year in the CWS Finals against Vandy: DH/C Robbie Coman, SS Daniel Pinero, 3B Kenny Towns, RF Joe McCarthy and pitchers Nathan Kirby, Josh Sborz and Brandon Waddell.
Close Games Throughout NCAA Tournament
Virginia has scored the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning or later in each of its eight NCAA tournament wins this season. UVa has come from behind in six of those wins.
UVa has scored the eventual winning run in its last at-bat three times (SDSU, USC regional championship, Maryland G2 super regional). UVa has posted 34 of its 49 runs in the NCAA tourney after the fifth inning.
Six of UVa’s eight tourney wins have been by two runs or fewer. UVa has had a lead of more than two runs in just two innings in the tournament (9th inning of 1st game vs USC, 11th inning in 2nd game vs USC).
Towns Wraps Up Strong Virginia Career
Kenny Towns’ UVa career will come to an end this week in the CWS Finals. The senior currently ranks sixth all-time at Virginia in career RBI (158) and doubles (51) and ninth in games played (204).
With 66 RBI this season, Towns is one shy of Joe Koshansky’s single-season school record, set in 2004. Towns owns school records in NCAA tournament games in games (29), hits (34), RBI (27) and doubles (9).
Jones Makes Final Start of 2015 Season
Connor Jones stepped into the No. 1 role on the mound midway through the season and has been stellar. Named to the 2015 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team recently, Jones has limited foes to a .222 batting average and struck out 107 in 109 1/3 innings.
Since Nathan Kirby went down with an injury on April 17, Jones is 3-0 with a 2.34 ERA, 56 strikeouts and a .205 BAA. He has worked at least six innings in each of his last eight starts, with seven of the eight games coming against teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament.
Noting Vanderbilt
The Commodores are red-hot and have won each of their eight NCAA tournament games, including three by shutout. Dansby Swanson, the No. 1 pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, leads the team in hitting at .337 and is one of three Commodores with 15 homers this year as Vanderbilt has swatted 69 home runs as a team. RHP Carson Fulmer (13-2, 1.95 ERA), the No. 8 overall MLB Draft pick, anchors a deep pitching staff which boasts a 2.89 ERA while limiting its opponents to a .215 batting average. Vanderbilt also is fielding .978 as a team.
