UVA advances to College World Series, beats Kansas State 10-4 to win Super Regional

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Virginia scored five runs in the ninth inning securing a 10-4 win over Kansas State to win its Super Regional in two games and clinch a berth in the College World Series for the seventh time in program history.

Jay Woolfolk pitched six and third innings, striking out seven batters and giving up just three earned runs earning the win.

Casey Saucke started the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning.

Virginia advances to the College World Series in back-to-back seasons.

“You won’t be able to get the smile off my face that they have the opportunity to go back to Omaha,” says UVa baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “Just so many moments today and over the last few weeks as the leader of the program you’re just so proud of them.”

“Going out there these past two weekends helping the team the best I can,” says Woolfolk. “I didn’t have my best stuff today but just battling through it and knowing your offense is going to score.”

“Every journey is a little different,” says UVA junior shortstop Griff O’Ferrall. " This season had a lot more twists and turns I would say then maybe our trip last year (to Omaha). We’re going into it with more of a demeanor of doing some damage and not going just to be there.

Virginia scored 15 of its 17 runs in the Super Regional with two outs.

Brian O’Connor called his team “relentless”.

Virginia has not lost a game in this year’s NCAA tournament going 5-0 in the regionals.

Here are some other postgame notes from a UVA baseball media release:

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Virginia jumped out to an early lead by scoring two runs during its first at-bat. With two outs, Casey Saucke belted his first career NCAA Tournament home run and 14th of the season to left centerfield. Henry Ford reached first on an infield single, stole second and then scored on Harrison Didawick’s single to right center.

• Kansas State, the game’s home team, also got on the board during the opening inning when Brendan Jones walked, stole second and scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Kaelen Culpepper. • The Wildcats tied the game in the bottom of the second when Nick English singled and then advanced to third on a hit by David Bishop and scored on a field’s choice by Jaden Parsons. UVA pitcher Jay Woolfolk struck out the final two KSU batters to strand Bishop on third base. • UVA used more two-out dramatics to retake the lead in the fifth inning. Eric Becker led off with a double, Bobby Whalen reached first on an infield hit and then Griff O’Ferrall loaded the bases when he beat out a bunt and was ruled safe following an officials’ replay. Ethan Anderson struck out and Becker was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice. With the bases still loaded, Henry Ford laced a single down the left field line to score Whalen and O’Ferrall. • Kansas State once again answered the UVA offensive output with a two-out solo homer by Brendan Jones in the bottom of the fifth. It was his ninth home run of the season. After Kyan Lodice hustled out a triple on the next at-bat, UVA’s Bobby Whalen raced to deep center field to end the inning, gloving a deep fly by Culpepper on the warning track. • UVA catcher Jacob Ference came up with a key defensive play in the bottom of the seventh when he threw out Parsons attempting to steal second base with one out. Immediately afterwards, KSU’s Chuck Ingram smashed a ball off the center field wall that would have tied the game. • The Cavaliers took advantage of a two-out walk in the eighth inning to tack on its fifth run. A double by Eric Becker scored Henry Godbout from first base to put UVA ahead 5-3.

• Lodice led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer to bring KSU back to within one run. It was his first home run off of a left-handed pitcher all season. • After Anderson and Saucke posted consecutive base hits in the top of the ninth inning, Ference tripled off the centerfield wall to break open a one-run game and give UVA a 7-4 lead. • Walk by Didawick and Godbout loaded the bases in the ninth that resulted in UVA’s final three runs when Hanson doubled down the left field line.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The Cavaliers have reached the College World Series seven times in the last 15 seasons, the second-most in college baseball in that span. (Florida – 8)

• The win marked just the second time UVA has swept a Super Regional. The other sweep was against Maryland in 2015, also in Charlottesville.

• UVA joins Stanford as the only two programs to reach three of the last four Men’s College World Series. Tennessee can also join the club and is tied 1-1 in its Super Regional.

• Virginia will go to back-to-back college world series for the second time in program history and first time since 2014 (National Runner-up) and 2015 seasons (National Champions)

• Casey Saucke recorded his first NCAA Tournament home run in 15 possible postseason games.

• Jay Woolfolk matched his career high with seven strikeouts. He had seven vs. Mississippi State during the NCAA Regional in his last mound appearance. • UVA scored 15 of its 17 runs during the Super Regional after the fourth inning.

• UVA is 29-5 when scoring first this season.

• Kansas State lead-off hitters scored in 1st, 2nd and 8th innings

UP NEXT

Virginia will be in bracket No. 2 at the Men’s College World Series, which consists of winners of the Knoxville (Tennessee/Evansville), Tallahassee (Florida State) and Chapel Hill (North Carolina/West Virginia) Super Regionals. The Men’s College World Series runs through June 23 or 24 at Charles Schwab Field. The eight-team field includes a double-elimination format that concludes with a best of three series between the two finalists. Game times, dates and television designations are expected to be announced on Monday night (June 11).

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