OmaHoos!

2 ACC teams already in.

That was one heck of game between UMD and UVA.  Maryland's relief pitcher that came in after the starter got rocked, did a marvelous job keeping UVA off the board for the next 7 innings.  Looked like he ran out of gas and couldn't find the strike zone in the 9th.  Then his relief hung a curve with bases loaded.

Kudos to the Cavaliers for not giving up. 

Why on God's green earth did the Maryland coach leave that guy in the 9th?  Really?  Did he forget this is a super regional.  

Maryland blew that game and UVA was gracious to take that charity.  JMO.

I was there all game and I can see why the Terps sent that kid out there for the 9th.  He was absolutely cruising and UVA didn't look like they were going to solve that riddle at all........

......but the last 3 outs are always the hardest in baseball - especially when you start to think about it.  Considering the closer had a 5 spot hung on him 24 hours prior and used over 30 pitches to do it - the consensus among the scouts I was sitting with was that it was the right move to send the Lefty back out there... Until his first pitch that is.  The kid threw it 55 feet and 2 feet outside and then proceeded to obviously start thinking about the moment.  He was doing everything he could think of to relax (deep breathing, walking around the mound, etc) but that in and of itself showed everyone the moment was getting to him.

UMD needed to get him out of there after that 1st BB for sure - DEFINITELY after the next batter Charlie Browned him on the next offering to make it 1 & 2 with 0 out and McCarthy coming up to bunt. 

But alas, it did not go that way and now the Hoos have another comeback win to fill their sails on the way to Omaha.

It was quite a game.

Interesting to note how differently Paul Manieri handled his staff last night to protect a 5-1 lead. He pulled his starter with two outs in the eighth, then went through four pitchers over the next two outs, giving each only a batter or two to prove he was the guy to get the last outs.

Granted, it's easier to push that many buttons when you have a deep and rested staff, but I liked the way he was not going to stand around and watch his lead evaporate.

Congrats to Maryland for two supers in two years after not going to the NCAA's for 40 or so years.  Hope they can hang onto that coach. He's a winner.

Best wishes to UVA in Omaha.

Rich,

I understand what you and the scouting intelligentsia are saying about trotting him out there in the 9th until he demonstrates he can't do the job.  Here are my thoughts.  That Maryland pitcher was their long reliever not the starter.  He is not used to filling in for 9 innings.  He is the bridge to the setup or reliever if they have the lead...and they had a comfortable lead going into the 9th.

UVA was definetely on their heels, the last thing MD wanted to do was give free bases with their 7th, 8th and 9th hitters coming up in the 9th inning when your team is down 1-0 in a best of three series.  Also, I believe his pitch count was in the 105-110 range when the MD long reliever came back out in the 9th with both a lefty and a righty "hot" in the bullpen.  MD did not play the percentages and it cost them a chance to play a third game and possibly go to Omaha.

If I'm missing something please let me know but that MD coach overthought the situation IMHO.

Leaving aside the second guessing, let's look at the fun stuff.

UVA, ranked as high as # 1 early in the season, goes through a raft of injuries, still missing a lot of key players, relying a ton on freshmen, and they put up back-to-back comeback thrillers.

I used to play my college games, lo those many years ago, on a crappy field behind the football stands at W&M.  Spectators were largely non-existent.  When I watch 5,000+ fans packed into Davenport going nuts over college baseball, I get chills.  It's a wonderful thing.

Not to mention it was rare for NCAA baseball to get TV coverage like they do now.  At best it was the championship game.  Now you can catch some mid-season games, conference playoffs, regional playoffs, super regionals, and the CWS from the comfort of your home.  

And yet, with the TV access generally there and free for the viewing, 5,000+ people opted to go there and pay to see it in person.  Two straight days.  And no doubt, had there been a third game, they probably would've had to turn some folks away.

Awesome.

My husband and I stayed in and did nothing but watch college baseball, sometimes two TV's at one time.  Its our favorite time of year and brings back lots of good memories.

There were 11K+ at the Arkansas, Missouri game yesterday. Todal for 3 days was about 37K.

Who ever said college baseball is dying is nuts. JMO

4 SEC teams and 2 ACC teams. Some things never change.

My wife and I spent many weekends and evenings watching our son's D2 team via webcast.   Usually had one computer on the webcast and the other on live stats.  Granted the picture wasn't the greatest, but at least we could listen to the play-by-play.

I agree.  College baseball is far from dying.  Stands are full come playoff time and there is more TV coverage than ever before.