Preview: Virginia Looks to Extend Season in Elimination Game vs. TCU

The Cavaliers and Horned Frogs clash on Sunday afternoon in Omaha with their College World Series lives on the line

Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia (50-14) will look to keep its season alive at the College World Series in an elimination game against TCU (42-23) on Sunday at 2pm ET in Omaha. The loser will see its season come to an end, while the winner will get to play at least one more game in Omaha against the loser of the winners' bracket game between Florida and Oral Roberts, which will be played on Sunday at 7pm ET. 

UPDATE: To see the live thread for Sunday's College World Series game between Virginia and TCU, click here: Virginia vs. TCU Live Updates | College World Series

Virginia fell to Florida 6-5 in heartbreaking fashion on Friday night. The Gators held a 1-0 lead through six innings, but the Cavaliers came alive and scored four runs in the top of the seventh to jump in front. Nick Parker gave up just one run in six frames and exited with the lead, but the UVA bullpen couldn't close the deal. The Gators scored one run in the bottom of the seventh and another in the bottom of the eighth before a Harrison Didawick RBI triple pushed the Cavalier lead back to two runs at 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth. Jake Berry, who had already given up a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, proceeded to give up two more solo homers to Ty Evans and Wyatt Langford in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. Virginia opted to leave Berry in the game and Florida took advantage, loading the bases after Berry gave up a single, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. UVA finally replaced Jake Berry with Jay Woolfolk, who faced impossible circumstances with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game. Luke Heyman hit a line drive to center field for a successful sacrifice fly to score the game-winning run, as Florida completed the ninth-inning rally and handed Virginia a devastating 6-5 loss. 

TCU's loss to Oral Roberts had a similar flavor, with the Horned Frogs scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 2-2 stalemate. TCU took a 5-2 lead into the top of the ninth inning, but the Golden Eagles scored a run on an RBI single by Drew Stahl and then Blaze Brothers delivered a clutch three-run home run to give Oral Roberts a 6-5 lead. TCU threatened with a couple of baserunners in the bottom of the ninth, but Oral Roberts held on for the win. 

Now, Virginia and TCU meet in the losers' bracket on Sunday afternoon to try to extend their respective stays in Omaha. UVA head coach Brian O'Connor confirmed on Saturday that junior lefty Connelly Early will start on the mound for the Cavaliers. In 17 starts this season, Early has a 12-2 record with a 3.06 ERA. Early has picked up two victories in the NCAA Tournament so far, giving up two earned runs in Virginia's victory over East Carolina and pitching seven innings with zero earned runs allowed in a win over Duke in the Super Regional. Early was named a Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, a Third-Team All-ACC selection, and was the Most Outstanding Player of the Charlottesville Regional. TCU has not confirmed a starter for Sunday's game yet, but the likely starting pitcher is righty Sam Stoutenborough, a graduate transfer from Cal. Stoutenborough is 5-0 in nine starts this season with a 4.52 ERA. 

Virginia and TCU have met twice in the NCAA Tournament, splitting those two meetings. The Cavaliers and Horned Frogs clashed in the winners' bracket of the 2017 Fort Worth Regional, with TCU beating UVA 5-1 as part of its most recent run to the College World Series. The other meeting between these two programs took place in Omaha at the 2014 College World Series. No. 3 seed Virginia battled No. 7 TCU in a marathon game that matched the CWS record for longest game in terms of innings. UVA eventually defeated TCU 3-2 in 15 innings on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Pinero. Virginia went on to the CWS Finals, falling to Vanderbilt in three games. 

If the Cavaliers want to return to the College World Series, they'll now have to win four elimination games in a row, beginning with Sunday's game against the Horned Frogs. 

Virginia (50-14) is set to take on TCU (42-23) on Sunday at 2pm ET at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. UVA will be the designated home team for the game, which will be broadcast on ESPN.

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