BASEBALL: At long last, Cavs return to Florida

By Jay Jenkins

Published: April 3, 2008

The last time Virginia coach Brian O’Connor ventured into Dick Howser Stadium, his starting third baseman was Ryan Zimmerman, now the ultimate late-game hero for the Washington Nationals.
O’Connor also boasted a weekend rotation of Matt Avery, Mike Ballard and Jeff Kamrath, all of whom currently ply their trade for various minor league baseball teams.
Due to a quirky rotating schedule that provides 10 weekend sets and excludes one league foe in two-year rotations, Virginia’s skipper is back - finally - at Florida State for the first time since 2005, and happy to be there.
“The thing that I looking forward to is having our young players compete in this environment,” O’Connor said. “They haven’t had a chance to play in this kind of environment on the road yet this year. I think it will be good for them.
“I don’t think our players will be in awe of it or anything. I think they will look at it as another baseball game against a good opponent, but I’m happy that we are coming here and playing Florida State this year because they have a good program and it is a good environment for college baseball.”
After dropping two of three games in back-to-back weekend sets at North Carolina State and Duke to open the season, the Cavaliers (23-5, 8-4 ACC) rejoined the Coastal Division title race with back-to-back sweeps over Boston College and Virginia Tech at the friendly confines of Davenport Field.
Remaining in contention, at least in the meantime, will require special performances on the mound against the second-ranked Seminoles (23-3, 11-1).
FSU, in fact, leads the nation in on-base percentage (.476), and it ranks second in batting average (.357), hits (353) and runs scored (289). 
“They are probably similar to Miami in that there is not a break or a relief in their lineup,” O’Connor said. “There are no easy outs in their lineup.”
Virginia’s coach is hopeful that his pitching staff, despite mid-week struggles in a pair of losses to George Washington and Towson, is up to the lofty challenge. Recent weekend work from tonight’s starter Jacob Thompson (4-0, 2.72 ERA), Saturday starter Pat McAnaney (3-1, 1.44 ERA) and Sunday starter Andrew Carraway (2-2, 3.19 ERA) has kept the Cavaliers ranked among the top programs in the nation in earned run average.
“I think our starters are up to the challenge,” O’Connor said. “They have pitched against teams like this before in their careers so it is no different.
“I don’t want them to treat it any differently. It’s no different than last weekend … it’s just on the road.”
While much of the attention is thrust upon Florida State’s blistering offensive start - and rightfully so - O’Connor also raved about the Seminoles’ new-look rotation (only one weekend starter returned) and how it compliments their eye-popping power numbers.
Florida State’s ace, Matt Fairel, started the season pitching on Saturday before being promoted. Tonight’s starter opposite Thompson has allowed only seven earned runs in 40 innings.
“[Fairel] is 6-0 with a 1.58 ERA. That speaks for itself,” O’Connor said. “I happen to think their pitching staff as a whole is pretty darn good.
“They have only lost three games on the year for a reason: they are a very balanced team.”
Extra bases
Two Virginia freshmen accompanied the team on the road for the first time this year. Tyler Biddix, a first baseman, and RHP Jake Cowan were included in the 25-man travel party. Cowan replaced fellow rookie pitcher Tyler Wilson, and Biddix took the spot of Phil Gosselin, a first-year infielder and outfielder who is out for at least a month following hand surgery on Monday. … O’Connor said starting first baseman Jeremy Farrell, who was unable to play in Wednesday’s loss to Towson, is listed as day-to-day. Farrell was drilled in the head by a pitch in the first inning on Tuesday against the Tigers. He remained in the game long enough to score but sat the final eight innings. … Left-handed pitcher Jeff Lorick was originally scheduled to start Wednesday’s game, O’Connor said, but was scratched after he developed stiffness in his knee. Jake Rule, who allowed five earned runs in 3.1 innings, was given a 45-minute notice that he would be starting. Lorick is listed as day-to-day.