2015 Virginia Cavaliers baseball team

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2015 Virginia Cavaliers baseball
Virginia Cavaliers text logo.svg
National Champions
Lake Elsinore Regional Champions
Charlottesville Super Regional Champions
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
2015 record44–24 (15–15 ACC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Kevin McMullan (12th season)
  • Karl Kuhn (12th season)
  • Matt Kirby (4th season)
Home stadiumDavenport Field
Seasons
← 2014
2016 →
2015 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball standings
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Atlantic
No. 10 Louisville  x‍‍‍y 25 – 5   .833 47 – 18   .723
No. 26 Notre Dame  ‍‍‍y 17 – 13   .567 37 – 23   .617
No. 12 Florida State  ‍‍‡‍y 17 – 13   .567 44 – 21   .677
Clemson  ‍‍‍y 16 – 13   .552 32 – 29   .525
NC State  ‍‍‍y 15 – 14   .517 36 – 23   .610
Wake Forest  ‍‍‍ 12 – 18   .400 27 – 26   .509
Boston College  ‍‍‍ 10 – 19   .345 27 – 27   .500
Coastal
No. 6 Miami (FL)  x‍‍‍y 22 – 8   .733 50 – 16   .758
No. 1 Virginia  ‍‍‍y 15 – 15   .500 44 – 24   .647
North Carolina  ‍‍‍ 13 – 16   .448 34 – 24   .586
Virginia Tech  ‍‍‍ 13 – 16   .448 27 – 27   .500
Georgia Tech  ‍‍‍ 13 – 17   .433 32 – 23   .582
Duke  ‍‍‍ 10 – 19   .345 31 – 22   .585
Pittsburgh  ‍‍‍ 9 – 21   .300 20 – 32   .385
x – Division champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament
As of June 30, 2015[1]; Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

The 2015 Virginia Cavaliers baseball team represented the University of Virginia during the 2015 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Cavaliers played their home games at Davenport Field as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Brian O'Connor, in his 12th season at Virginia.

2015 was a tough regular season for the 2014 NCAA runner-up. The Cavaliers slogged through a disappointing and injury-filled regular season. By winning 5 of its last 6 ACC games, the Cavs managed to cobble together a .500 ACC record, qualifying them for a play in game at the ACC tournament. At the tournament they won the play in game against Georgia Tech and then promptly lost the last three games.

Virginia was given an NCAA tournament berth, as a No. 3 regional seed, and the Cavs took full advantage. They swept through the Lake Elsinore (Calif.) Regional, and because Maryland, also a #3 seed, had won its regional, were able to host a Super Regional, which the Cavaliers swept as well.

In Omaha the Cavaliers won the 2015 College World Series, highlighted by winning two of three games against Florida before ousting Vanderbilt in three games in the CWS Finals. Virginia's season was notable for the Cavaliers continuing to battle in spite of numerous setbacks. That never give up attitude was evident in its post season as well: UVA scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning or later in each of their 10 postseason wins.[2]

Previous Season[]

In 2014, the Cavaliers finished the season 2nd in the ACC's Coastal Division with a record of 47–14, 22–8 in conference play. They qualified for the 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament, and were eliminated in pool play. They qualified for the 2014 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament as the #3 overall national seed, and were placed in the Charlottesville Regional, of which they were hosts. Also in the regional were Bucknell, Liberty, and Arkansas. The Cavaliers defeated Bucknell, 10–1, in the opening game, and then shut out Arkansas, 3–0, to advance to the regional final. There, they again defeated Arkansas, this time by a score of 9–2. In the Super Regional, the Cavaliers fell in the opening game to ACC foe Maryland, 4–5. However, they rebounded and defeated the Terrapins in the next two games, 7–3 and 11–2, to advance to the College World Series.

In the College World Series, Virginia's first game was against Ole Miss, whom the Cavaliers defeated, 2–1. In the second round, Virginia defeated #7 national seed TCU, 3–2, in 15 innings. In the semifinals, the Cavaliers again defeated Ole Miss, this time by a score of 4–1. The Cavaliers advanced to the College World Series finals to play Vanderbilt. In the first game of the finals, the Commodores won by a score of 9–8. Virginia then rebounded to defeat Vanderbilt, 7–2, in game two. In a winner-take-all game three, Vanderbilt prevailed, 3–2, to be crowned national champions.

Personnel[]

Roster[]

2015 Virginia Cavaliers roster[3]
 

Pitchers

  • 6 – Matt Doughty – Freshman
  • 7 – Adam Haseley – Freshman
  • 11 – Bennett Sousa – Freshman
  • 13 – Alec Bettinger – Sophomore
  • 14 – Derek Casey – Freshman
  • 16 – Tommy Doyle – Freshman
  • 17 – Jack Roberts – Redshirt Freshman
  • 19 – Nathan Kirby – Junior
  • 20 – Brandon Waddell – Junior
  • 27 – Josh Sborz – Junior
  • 28 – Kevin Doherty – Junior
  • 29 – Riley Cummins – Freshman
  • 32 – Mark Ostbye – Freshman
  • 33 – Connor Jones – Sophomore
  • 34 – Riley Wilson – Freshman
  • 35 – David Rosenberger – Junior
  

Catchers

  • 8 – Robbie Coman – Junior
  • 21 – Matt Thaiss – Sophomore

Infielders

  • 2 – John La Prise – Junior
  • 4 – Ernie Clement – Freshman
  • 9 – Kenny Towns – Senior
  • 10 – Pavin Smith – Freshman
  • 12 – Charlie Cody – Freshman
  • 18 – Justin Novak – Freshman
  • 22 – Daniel Pinero – Sophomore
  • 25 – Jack Gerstenmaier – Freshman
  • 37 – Thomas Woodruff – Senior
  

Outfielders

  • 23 – Christian Lowry – Freshman
  • 31 – Joe McCarthy – Junior
  

Coaching Staff[]

Name Position Seasons at
Virginia		 Alma Mater
Brian O'Connor Head Coach 12 Creighton University (1993)
Kevin McMullan Associate Head Coach 12 Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1990)
Karl Kuhn Assistant Coach 12 University of Florida (1992)
Matt Kirby Assistant Coach 4 College of William & Mary (2003)

Schedule[]

Legend
  Virginia win
  Virginia loss
  Postponement
Bold Virginia team member
2015 Virginia Cavaliers Baseball Game Log
Regular Season
February
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACC Record
February 13 at East Carolina #3 Clark–LeClair Stadium • Greenville, NC 3–1 Kirby (1–0) Kruczynski (0–1) Sborz (1) 2,541 1–0
February 14 at East Carolina #3 Clark–LeClair Stadium • Greenville, NC 9–2 Jones (1–0) Wolfe (0–1) 3,058 2–0
February 15 at East Carolina #3 Clark–LeClair Stadium • Greenville, NC 4–2 Roberts (1–0) Boyd (0–1) Sborz (2) 3,058 3–0
February 17 VCU #3 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA Canceled
February 20 Marist #3 Bishop England High School • Charleston, S.C. 9–1 Kirby (2–0) Evan (0–1) 227 4–0
February 21 La Salle #3 Charleston Southern • Charleston, S.C. 8–3 Jones (2–0) Andujar (0–1) Doherty (1) 219 5–0
February 21 Marist #3 College of Charleston • Charleston, S.C. 7–2 Bettinger (1–0) Vrana (0–1) Rosenberger (1) 255 6–0
February 22 Marist #3 Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park • Charleston, S.C. 5–418 Sousa (1–0) Bunting (0–1) 527 7–0
February 24 George Washington #2 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA Canceled
February 27 Hartford #2 Myrtle Beach, S.C. 5–1 Kirby (3–0) Gauthier (1–1) Bettinger (1) 255 8–0
February 28 Seton Hall #2 Myrtle Beach, S.C. 4–1 Jones (3–0) Pacillo (0–2) Sborz (3) 271 9–0
March
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACC Record
March 1 Cornell #2 Myrtle Beach, S.C. 5–4 Sborz (1–0) Horton (0–2) 177 10–0
March 4 VMI #2 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA Postponed
March 7 Pittsburgh #2 Cary, N.C. 0–1 Zeuch (3–1) Kirby (3–1) 317 10–1 0–1
March 7 Pittsburgh #2 Cary, N.C. 2–1 Jones (4–0) Sandefur (1–1) Sborz (4) 317 11–1 1–1
March 8 Pittsburgh #2 Cary, N.C. 10–3 Waddell (1–0) Berube (0–2) 728 12–1 2–1
March 11 Old Dominion #3 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 5–14 Diaz (3–1) Casey (0–1) 2,778 12–2
March 13 at Virginia Tech #3 English Field • Blacksburg, VA 1–2 Keselica (3–1) Roberts (1–1) 419 12–3 2–2
March 14 at Virginia Tech #3 English Field • Blacksburg, VA 1–3 McGarity (2–1) Jones (4–1) Scherzer (3) 1,282 12–4 2–3
March 15 at Virginia Tech #3 English Field • Blacksburg, VA 5–6 Coward (1–0) Sborz (1–1) Naughton (1) 2,642 12–5 2–4
March 17 Towson #12 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 8–0 Bettinger (2–0) Lawler (0–3) 2,901 13–5
March 20 Florida State #12 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 8–4 Doherty (1–0) Silva (2–1) Sborz (5) 3,200 14–5 3–4
March 21 Florida State #12 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 10–12 Silva (3–1) Sborz (1–2) 4,196 14–6 3–5
March 22 Florida State #12 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 1–13 Johnson (3–1) Waddell (1–1) 3,994 14–7 3–6
March 24 Georgetown #25 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 0–1 Simon (2–2) Bettinger (2–1) Ellingson (3) 2,871 14–8
March 25 at Liberty #25 Liberty Baseball Stadium • Lynchburg, VA 10–7 Casey (1–1) Stafford 2,841 15–8
March 27 at Notre Dame #25 Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, IN 9–1 Kirby (4–1) Kerrigan (1–4) Doherty (2) 783 16–8 4–6
March 28 at Notre Dame #25 Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, IN 4–2 Doyle (1–0) Guenther (1–1) Sborz (6) 783 17–8 5–6
March 29 at Notre Dame #25 Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, IN 5–4 Waddell (2–1) McCarty (3–3) Sborz (7) 377 18–8 6–6
March 31 at VCU #20 The Diamond • Richmond, VA 5–3 Casey (2–1) Concepcion (1–2) Sborz (8) 3,233 19–8
April
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACC Record
April 1 VMI #20 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 6–7 Staats (1–1) Cummins (0–1) Edens (4) 3,014 19–9
April 4 Louisville #20 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 1–8 Funkhouser (4–2) Kirby (4–2) 4,372 19–10 6–7
April 5 Louisville #20 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 4–11 McKay (5–0) Doherty (1–1) 3,739 19–11 6–8
April 6 Louisville Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 0–4 Rogers (5–1) Waddell (2–2) 3,278 19–12 6–9
April 8 James Madison Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 14–1 Casey (3–1) Tucker (1–3) 3,245 20–12
April 10 at Georgia Tech Russ Chandler Stadium • Atlanta, GA 14–4 Kirby (5–2) King (2–2) 1,409 21–12 7–9
April 11 at Georgia Tech Russ Chandler Stadium • Atlanta, GA 4–11 Gorst (3–2) Conor (4–2) 2,344 21–13 7–10
April 12 at Georgia Tech Russ Chandler Stadium • Atlanta, GA 3–4 Gold (5–1) Waddell (2–3) Ryan (7) 1,641 21–14 7–11
April 14 Radford Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA Canceled
April 15 William & Mary Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 3–2 Bettinger (3–1) Fletcher (3–1) Sborz (9) 3,084 22–14
April 17 Miami (FL) Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 5–4 Rosenberger (1–0) Woodrey (4–2) Sborz (10) 3,589 23–14 8–11
April 18 Miami (FL) Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 5–2 Doherty (2–1) Garcia (4–2) Sborz (11) 4,228 24–14 9–11
April 19 Miami (FL) Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 6–8 Abrams (1–0) Waddell (2–4) Garcia (9) 3,747 24–15 9–12
April 21 Longwood Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 14–4 Casey (4–1) Catlin (3–2) Roberts (1) 25–15
April 22 Liberty Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 5–2 Haseley (1–0) Parker (3–4) Sborz (12) 3,017 26–15
April 24 at NC State Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 8–3 Jones (5–2) Brown (3–3) 1,759 27–15 10–12
April 25 at NC State Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 3–4 Gilbert (1–1) Doyle (1–1) 937 27–16 10–13
April 26 at NC State Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 3–510 DeJuneas (2–2) Bettinger (3–2) 1,113 27–17 10–14
April 28 at Old Dominion Harbor Park • Norfolk, VA 1–3 Benitez (1–1) Haseley (1–1) Hartman (1) 6,029 27–18
May
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACC Record
May 8 Duke Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 3–1 Doherty (3–1) Istler (5–4) Bettinger (2) 3,723 28–18 11–14
May 9 Duke Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 7–9 Labosky (2–0) Bettinger (3–3) Koplove (11) 4,393 28–19 11–15
May 10 Duke Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 4–2 Sborz (2–2) Clark (3–5) Haseley (1) 4,118 29–19 12–15
May 12 Richmond Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 8–6 Bettinger (4–3) Lively 3,369 30–19
May 14 at North Carolina Boshamer Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC 2–110 Haseley (2–1) Thornton (3–6) Bettinger (3) 1,997 31–19 13–15
May 15 at North Carolina Boshamer Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC 6–2 Waddell (3–4) Bukauskas (4–3) 2,957 32–19 14–15
May 16 at North Carolina Boshamer Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC 8–2 Rosenberger (2–0) Kelley (5–3) Doherty (3) 2,527 33–19 15–15
Post-Season
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACCT Record
May 19 Georgia Tech #29 Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC 11–07 Sborz (3–2) King (4–5) 2,614 34–19 1–0
May 20 Miami (FL) #29 Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC 5–9 Garcia (5–2) Bettinger (4–4) 2,774 34–20 1–1
May 22 Notre Dame #29 Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC 2–8 Smoyer (9–0) Waddell (3–5) Bielak (1) 2,916 34–21 1–2
May 23 NC State #29 Durham Bulls Athletic Park • Durham, NC 2–10 Williamson (4–3) Bettinger (4–5) 7,139 34–22 1–3
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record NCAAT Record
May 29 (2) USC Lake Elsinore Diamond • Lake Elsinore, CA 6–1 Jones (6–2) Davis (3–3) Sborz (13) 2,000 35–22 1–0
May 30 (4) San Diego State Lake Elsinore Diamond • Lake Elsinore, CA 3–1 Sborz (4–2) Seyler (9–3) 2,114 36–22 2–0
May 31 (2) USC Lake Elsinore Diamond • Lake Elsinore, CA 14–1011 Rosenberger (3–0) Wheatley (4–4) Sborz (14) 1,065 37–22 3–0
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record NCAAT Record
June 5 Maryland #13 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 5–3 Jones (7–2) Mooney (3–1) Sborz (14) 5,001 38–22 4–0
June 6 Maryland #13 Davenport Field • Charlottesville, VA 5–4 Bettinger (5–5) Galligan (4–5) 5,001 39–22 5–0
NCAA Tournament – College World Series
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record CWS Record
June 13 #7 Arkansas #8 TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 5–3 Sborz (5–2) Killian (3–5) 24,228 40–22 1–0
June 15 #2 Florida #8 TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 1–0 Waddell (4–5) Puk (9–4) Sborz (15) 19,544 41–22 2–0
June 19 #2 Florida #8 TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 5–10 Faedo (11–6) Kirby (5–3) 19,015 41–23 2–1
June 20 #2 Florida #8 TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 5–4 Sborz (6–2) Lewis (6–2) 15,560 42–23 3–1
June 22 #5 Vanderbilt #8 TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 1–5 Fulmer (14–2) Jones (7–3) 21,652 42–24 3–2
June 23 #5 Vanderbilt #8 TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 3–0 Sborz (7–2) Pfeiffer (6–5) 24,645 43–24 4–2
June 24 #5 Vanderbilt #8 TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE 4–2 Waddell (5–5) Kilichowski (3–4) Kirby (1) 17,689 44–24 5–2

All rankings from Collegiate Baseball.

Rankings[]

See also: 2015 NCAA Division I baseball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314151617Final
Coaches'22*111714121723202324—25——*11
Baseball America4443314201622———————1
Collegiate Baseball^33223122520——————29—1381
NCBWA†2111191291521192227272430141
D1Baseball

^ Collegiate Baseball ranks 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
 † NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
 * New poll was not released for this week so for comparison purposes the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

Awards and honors[]

Nathan Kirby
  • Louisville Slugger Pre-season First Team All-American[4]
  • Perfect Game USA Pre-season First Team All-American[5]
  • Baseball America Pre-season First team All-American[6]
  • All ACC 1st Team[7]
Joe McCarthy
  • Louisville Slugger Pre-season Second Team All-American[4]
  • Perfect Game USA Pre-season Second Team All-American[5]
  • Baseball America Pre-season Second Team All-American[6]
Josh Sborz
  • Most Outstanding Player, 2015 College World Series[8]
  • ACC Second Team[7]
Brandon Waddell
  • Louisville Slugger Pre-season Second Team All-American[4]
  • Perfect Game USA Pre-season Third Team All-American[5]
Matt Thaiss
  • Louisville Slugger 2015 Third Team All-American[9]
Pavin Smith
  • ACC All Freshman Team[7]
  • Louisville Slugger Freshmen A-A Team[10]
Adam Haseley
  • ACC All Freshman Team[7]
  • Louisville Slugger Freshmen A-A Team[10]
Kenny Towns
  • ACC Second Team[7]
Daniel Pinero
  • ACC Second Team[7]

References[]

  1. ^ "Baseball Standings". Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "Brian O'Connor Bio – VirginiaSports.com – University of Virginia Official Athletics Website – UVA Cavaliers Baseball". virginiasports.com. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Official Baseball Roster". Virginia Cavaliers. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "NCAA Div. I Pre-Season All-Americans". Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Preseason College All-Americans". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "2015 College Preview: All-America Teams". Baseball America. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "2015 ACC Baseball Honors Announced". TheACC.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Dodgers draftee Josh Sborz named Most Outstanding Player of College World Series". True Blue LA. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
  9. ^ "Louisville Slugger All-Americans Announced". Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Louisville Slugger Freshmen A-A Team". Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
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