Virginia wins College World Series opener

Next Image > < Previous Image

Virginia's starting pitcher Danny Hultzen works against California in the first inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game.
California's catcher Chadd Krist, right, tags out Virginia's Chris Taylor during a rundown between third base and home plate, in the third inning.
California's Austin Booker, right, is caught stealing second base by Virginia's second baseman Keith Werman, in the third inning.
Virginia's assistant coach Karl Kuhn , left, talks to starting pitcher Danny Hultzen in the fifth inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game against California in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, June 19, 2011.
California first baseman Devon Rodriguez, right, tags out Virginia base runner John Barr, in the seventh inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, June 19, 2011.
Virginia's Keith Werman, center, celebrates with teammates after he scored in the seventh inning of an NCAA College World Series.
Virginia's Keith Werman, center, celebrates with teammates after he scored in the seventh inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game against California on a single by John Hicks, in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, June 19, 2011.
Virginia's closing pitcher Branden Kline, left, and catcher John Hicks hug after defeating California 4-1 in an NCAA College World Series baseball game.

By: Michael Phillips | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: June 19, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. – The Cavaliers put runners in scoring position all day Sunday. In the seventh inning, they finally brought one home.

That, combined with stellar pitching from Danny Hultzen and Tyler Wilson, was enough to take down Cal 4-1 in an opening-round game at the College World Series.

Virginia stranded nine runners, seven of them in scoring position. The missed opportunities added up until Keith Werman crossed the plate in the seventh on a John Hicks single to keep the Wahoos in the winners’ bracket.

U.Va. (55-10) faces the winner of Sunday night’s South Carolina-Texas A&M game on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Hultzen took the ball to start the game, needing 28 pitches to get through the first inning. The Golden Bears (37-22) kept fouling off pitches to stay alive, a trend that continued through the game.

They never seriously threatened, but did enough to drive Hultzen from the game in the seventh inning after his pitch count had sailed well above 100.

Wilson took over from there, a coaching decision that likely means Will Roberts will start game two. Wilson got the win Sunday instead of Hultzen, since the Cavaliers’ offense didn’t start converting until he entered the game.

The seventh started with Werman, a .210 hitter this season, hitting a single. Chris Taylor walked, John Barr laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Hicks laced a ball to the outfield that scored Werman.

Steven Proscia followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Taylor. In the eighth Jared King added insurance, tripling to score Mitchell Shifflett, who was pinch running for Kenny Swab. King scored on a Werman single to cap off Virginia’s offensive output.

Cal plated a run with two outs in the ninth, prompting coach Brian O'Connor to bring in closer Branden Kline for the game's final batter.

The offense came after a historically slow game – the last time a CWS game was scoreless through six innings was in 1987.

A crowd of 21,275 at the brand-new TD Ameritrade Park was less than enthralled with the pitchers’ duel, with the outfield bleachers starting to empty midway through the game.

mphillips@timesdispatch.com

(804) 649-6546