CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – The UVA baseball team got a fantastic pitching performance from starter Jay Woolfolk leading the ‘Hoos to a 9-2 win over Mississippi State Sunday night at Disharoon Park and winning the Charlottesville Regional.
Woolfolk gave up an early 2-run home run but then settled in, pitching a career-high eight innings and striking out a career-high seven batters. He only gave up two earned runs on the homer and only walked one batter.
Woolfolk was named the Charlottesville Regional Most Outstanding Player.
“The outing that he had was one of the best outings that we’ve ever had in my 21 years at Virginia in such a pivotal game,” said UVa coach Brian O’Connor. “He was phenominal. When his team counted on him and he needed to step up, he pitched the game best game he’s pitched in our uniform in three years.”
“I know this season may not have been the best that I wanted it to,” says Woolfolk. “But when you have teammates like these guys and coaches like Oak who believe in you and keep throwing you out in those type of situations, you never lose confidence in yourself no matter what.”
“Seeing his resilience throughout the season has been incredible” says Griff O’Ferrall about Woolfolk. “He’s done a really good job of turning the page from appearance to appearance and that’s why he was such a perfect guy for this situation, it was a clean slate.”
Virginia advances to a Super Regional for the ninth time in the last 15 years. It is not official yet, but Virginia will host a Super Regional. That’s because No. 5 overall seed, Arkansas, was upset and eliminated in the Fayetteville Regional. Kansas State won the Fayetteville Regional and will now play Virginia at Disharoon Park next weekend.
Here are some other postgame notes from a UVA baseball media release:
HOW IT HAPPENED
• For the third-straight day, the Cavaliers were the first to put a run on the scoreboard. Ford drove in his first run of the regional with an RBI single that scored Griff O’Ferrall who led the game off with a double.
• The initial lead for the Cavaliers – the designated visiting team – was short-lived as MSU’s Bryce Jordan blasted a two-run homer in the bottom half of the first, his 20th of the year and third of the regional.
• The Cavaliers regained the lead in the top of the third after Henry Ford’s infield single, followed by an MSU throwing error, allowed O’Ferrall, who was on second, to round third and touch home safely to tie the game, 2-2. On the following at bat, Jacob Ference’s left field single brought home Bobby Whalen, which put the Hoos ahead to stay.
• In the ninth, Harrison Didawick and Henry Godbout both walked to bring up Anderson, whose infield single loaded the bases. Then, Hanson went first-pitch swinging and roped a shot to left to score Godbout and Didawick.
• UVA extend its lead when O’Ferrall laid down a bunt and MSU relief pitch Tyler Davis’ throw to first sailed past the MSU first baseman to bring home two more runs.
• Later in the ninth, the Hoos tacked on two more runs on two separate wild pitches, which allowed O’Ferrall and Whalen to touch home plate, respectively.
• Woolfolk received a standing ovation from the Disharoon Park crowd in the bottom of the ninth. Righty Chase Hungate entered in relief and retired two of the next three batters, one of which on a 5-4 double play, to clinch the Charlottesville Regional.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
• The Cavaliers improve to 3-0 against SEC teams this season with two wins against Mississippi State and one against Auburn on Feb. 25.
• Ethan Anderson has reached base in 30-straight games with his single seventh inning.
• The start on the mound for Woolfolk was his first since March 17. His previous career-high in innings pitched was 6.0 vs. UMass on 3/3/24 and his previous career-best for strikeouts was six at Miami on March 10)
• O’Ferrall scored three runs in the contest and moved into second place, passing Bill Narleski (1984-87) for second place on UVA’s career runs scored list.
UP NEXT
In the best-of-three Super Regional round, Virginia will be square off against Kansas State (35-24), the winner of the Fayetteville Regional, next weekend. Start times and TV designations will post to VirginiaSports.com announced by the NCAA on Tuesday (June 2).
All-Tournament Team
C – Jacob Ference, Virginia
1B – Hunter Hines, Mississippi State
2B – Henry Godbout, Virginia
3B – Eric Becker, Virginia
SS – David Mershon, Mississippi State
OF – Jackson Tucker, St. John’s
OF – Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State
OF – Bryce Chance, Mississippi State
DH – Paul Orbon, St. John’s
P – Khal Stephan, Mississippi State
P – Jay Woolfolk, Virginia
P – Matt Augustin, Virginia
MOP – Jay Woolfolk or Eric Becker
*A tie in the voting at pitcher resulted in a 12-man All-Tournament Team
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