Cavs flash leather in win over ’Noles

By Jay Jenkins

Published: May 24, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For obvious reasons, what Virginia coach Brian O’Connor called the “play of the game” was overshadowed.

Blame it on the fact that right fielder David Coleman made ESPN’s Top 10 plays of the day — twice.

Lost in the shuffle in the Cavaliers’ 5-3 win over Florida State, however, was the combined heroics from pitcher Matt Packer and first baseman Jeremy Farrell on the weakest hit ball of the contest.

With 8,000-plus Florida State fans hanging on every pitch in the pivotal eighth inning and two runners on base, Mike McGee slapped Packer’s two-out, full-count pitch into the ground halfway down the third-base line.

Virginia’s southpaw sprung to life, racing off the mound to scoop the ball before throwing it as hard as his arm would allow, but the offering tailed off and into the dirt. Farrell, still sore from taking a pitch off his left thigh earlier in the game, dug the ball cleanly, allowing Packer to erupt emotionally with a deafening scream.

“I tried to throw that as hard as I could,” Packer said. “I saw it and I knew it was going to be a close play and I got to it as quick as I could.

“I just winged it over to first base.”

After UVa closer Michael Schwimer recorded three outs in the ninth, the play loomed even larger as North Carolina blanked Wake Forest and propelled the Cavaliers into the title game. The Tar Heels’ win made Virginia’s scheduled contest against Wake Forest — the start of which was delayed until 10:20 by rain — all but meaningless for the championship-bound Cavaliers, who face top-

seeded Miami today at 1 p.m. UVa will be the home team by virtue of a coin flip.

“That was, I think, the biggest play,” O’Connor said. “You had runners on second and third and two outs and it took perfect execution on both ends. If Packer doesn’t make that play, it is a completely different game.”

Packer’s ability to cover the mound and limit Florida State’s vaunted lineup did not surprise the coaching staff. The sophomore sports an ACC-best earned run average of 1.19, allowing just eight earned runs in 60.2 innings of work.

“He is a great athlete on the mound,” O’Connor said. “That is part of the reason that he has been so efficient this entire year out of the bullpen.”

Packer (6-2) said he has not bothered to bask in his gaudy numbers or his insertion into the rotation as a starter in four games this year.

“I glance at [my ERA] every now and then, but I try not to pay attention to it,” Packer said. “Either way, I am kind of fine with my role on the team. I am comfortable doing both.”

That was not always the case during Packer’s rookie season. In 64 innings, he allowed 30 earned runs and 89 hits en route to a 3-3 record.

“I am not really sure what is different,” said Packer, who turns 20 in August. “It is the confidence probably of it being my second year and just being comfortable pitching.

“That is probably the biggest difference.”

Routinely entering games after batters face a right-handed pitcher, such as Andrew Carraway and Jacob Thompson, has also helped the crafty, yet slow-working lefty.

“I don’t throw quite as hard as those guys and I try to slow down the hitters,” Packer said. “It takes them a while to adjust to the change of arms.

“I just try to kind of set a nice pace when I get in here.”

Having pitched six solid innings in the tournament thus far, Packer could be a sleeper candidate for ACC tournament MVP should Virginia upend Miami today.

For now, Packer is just enjoying the ride and the resurgence of a program many considered a bubble team just four days ago before stunning wins over North Carolina and FSU.

“It has been fantastic beating the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the country,” Packer said. “We are starting to play like we can and that is exciting.

“It would be amazing for us if we could beat Miami, too.”