Weekend Series - Miami
With their win at Liberty on Tuesday, the Hoos got back on the winning track. They'll now look to build a new winning streak as well as getting back into the ACC series win column.
Miami will be the opponent this weekend at The Dish. The Hurricanes are coming off a sweep of rival Florida State.
Game Schedule
Friday, April 7 - 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 8 - 1:00 PM
Sunday, April 9 - 1:00 PM
Team Records
Virginia: 25-4 (Overall), 8-4 (ACC)
Miami: 20-9 (Overall), 8-4 (ACC)
Stat Comparison
Format is raw stat (rank in Division 1). Stats and rankings are as of games played April 5.
Batting
| TEAM | OBP | SLG | RUNS/GAME |
| Virginia | .432 (13) | .512 (36) | 9.3 (12) |
| Miami | .397 (81) | .534 (21) | 7.8 (57) |
OBP = On Base Percentage
SLG = Slugging Percentage
Pitching
| TEAM | ERA | K/9 | BB/9 |
| Virginia | 3.09 (4) | 10.5 (25) | 3.44 (25) |
| Miami | 4.93 (81) | 11.0 (13) | 3.44 (26) |
K/9 = Strikeouts Per 9 Innings
BB/9 = Walks Per 9 Innings
Miscellaneous
| TEAM | FLD % | RPI | SOS |
| Virginia | .981 (11) | 3 | 37 |
| Miami | .975 (79) | 14 | 10 |
FLD % = Fielding Percentage
SOS = Strength of Schedule
Note that all stats are from NCAA.com. RPI and strength of schedule data is from WarrenNolan.com and is as of games played through April 5.
Pitching Matchups
Friday
Virginia RHP Brian Edgington (6-0 200)
5-0 / 1.64 ERA / 38.1 IP / 12 Walks / 43 Strikeouts / .224 Batting Average Against
Edgington gets the call for the second consecutive Friday.
Last Friday in Blacksburg, Edgington stepped up and gave the Hoos 6.0 innings of 4 hit baseball. He allowed just 2 runs, both of which were unearned. Edgington also struck out 8 against 3 walks.
So far, Edgington has proven to be one of the better pitchers in ACC play. In just conference games, Edgington ranks in the league's top twelve in multiple categories to include ERA (3rd - 1.57), Wins (Tied 2nd - 2), Innings Pitched (7th - 23.0), Fewest Runs Allowed (Tied 5th - 7), Fewest Earned Runs Allowed (Tied 3rd - 4), Strikeouts (Tied 7th - 21), Strikeouts Looking (Tied 6th - 6), and Lowest Batting Average Against (Tied 12th - .227).
Miami RHP Gage Ziehl (6-0 216)
4-3 / 4.58 ERA / 39.1 IP / 12 Walks / 48 Strikeouts / .271 Batting Average Against
Miami turns to sophomore right-hander Gage Ziehl in the series opener on Friday evening.
As a freshman last season, Ziehl led Miami in appearances with 30 with all of those coming in relief. In those 30 appearances, Ziehl pitched 35.2 innings and posted a 4.04 ERA. He compiled a 2-2 record during his freshman campaign that saw him walk 16 while striking out 52. Opposing batters hit .207 against Ziehl during the 2022 season.
This season Ziehl has made 7 starts in as many appearances. During the nonconference weekend portion of Miami's schedule, Ziehl was the Friday starter for the Hurricanes. Once ACC play began, he moved into the Saturday starter role for Miami. This weekend marks his apparent return to Friday starter role.
In Ziehl's start last weekend against Florida State, he delivered 7.2 innings in Miami's 3 to 2 win over the Seminoles. For his efforts, Ziehl earned the win in the decision. Across those 7.2 innings, he scattered 4 hits while allowing just 1 run (earned). Ziehl walked just 1 batter and struck out 9.
Last season against the Hoos, Ziehl made relief appearances in both the Friday and Saturday contests. In each, Ziehl pitched 1.0 inning of scoreless relief. In total across the 2.0 innings that weekend, Ziehl gave up no hits, no walks, and struck out 4. Miami won each of those game as they swept the series in Miami.
D1 Baseball ranked Ziehl as the 9th best 2024 MLB Draft prospect in the ACC in their conference preview of the league. Last summer, Ziehl pitched for Harwich in the Cape Cod League. In D1 Baseball's review of Miami's fall session, they noted that Ziehl was one of Miami's best pitchers. One of their keys for Miami's 2023 season was his ability to transition from the bullpen to a starting role.
Saturday
Virginia RHP Nick Parker (6-1 208)
3-0 / 4.32 ERA / 25.0 IP / 10 Walks / 34 Strikeouts / .297 Batting Average Against
Parker lived a pitcher's worst nightmare in his last start against Florida State. A line drive back up the middle ended his outing against the Seminoles against the game's third batter.
It was a chilling scene. That Parker is back on the mound after missing just one start feels something like a miracle. He and the UVA medical and training staff all get a ton of credit in making this happen.
Miami RHP Alejandro Rosario (6-1 182)
2-3 / 8.27 ERA / 32.2 IP / 19 Walks / 43 Strikeouts / .230 Batting Average Against
Rosario is in his third season at Miami where he's performed mostly as a starting pitcher. In 37 career appearances with Miami, Rosario has started 30 games.
Last season, he started a career high 12 games in 15 appearances. Rosario complied a 2-3 record and 7.05 ERA across 60.0 innings pitched during the 2022 season for Miami. Opposing batters hit .327 against Rosario last season.
This season, Rosario has started each of Miami's Sunday games. Last weekend against Florida State, Rosario earned the win in Miami's 13 to 4 win over the Noles to complete the series sweep for Miami. Rosario threw 8.0 innings while surrendering 4 hits and 4 runs (all earned). He walked just 1 while striking out 12.
Against the Hoos last season, Rosario started the Sunday series finale. Miami won that game 15 to 5 to sweep the series. For his part, Rosario threw 4.0 innings of 7 hit baseball in the game. In those 4.0 innings, he allowed 3 runs (all earned) and 7 hits while walking 5 and striking out 2. He did not factor into the decision.
As a freshman during the 2021 season, Rosario started the series opener against the Hoos in Charlottesville. Miami won that game 8 to 6. Rosario picked up the win in that start. He threw 6.0 innings of 8 hit baseball. In those 6.0 innings, Rosario gave up 2 runs (both earned) while walking 2 and striking out none.
In D1 Baseball's preview of the 2023 ACC season, they ranked Rosario as the 36th best prospect in the league for the 2023 MLB Draft. In their preview of Miami, they note that Rosario has a premium arm with a fastball in the mid 90s.However, he's yet to piece together all of his stuff consistently. Besides a plus fastball that features sink when it's at its best, Rosario also throws an improving breaking ball. He has a changeup but it is need of improvement to reach a level of consistency. The biggest question mark for Rosario is his ability to handle adversity on the mound when his stuff is not at its best.
Sunday
Virginia RHP Jack O'Connor (6-5 235)
2-1 / 3.27 ERA / 33.0 IP / 15 Walks / 28 Strikeouts / .217 Batting Average Against
Last Sunday against Virginia Tech, O'Connor faced the first real adversity in his career. The start against the Hokies did not go as planned as O'Connor lasted just 1.2 innings in the series clinching win for Tech. O'Connor gave up just 1 hit but he walked 3 while striking out none. That led to 4 Virginia Tech runs (3 earned) and the Hoos were fighting an uphill battle the rest of the day.
The Easter Sunday start against Miami will be both a challenge and an opportunity for the talented first-year pitcher. The home crowd supporting O'Connor may make all the difference in this one.
Miami TBA
The Hurricanes have not named a starter for the series finale.
Hurricane To Watch
Miami junior infielders Yohandy (YoYo) Morales and CJ Kayfus are the headliners of the Miami offense. But Kayfus is really the straw that stirs the drink for Miami.
Kayfus, the MVP of the 2022 Hurricanes and 2022 All-ACC Second Team member, typically handles 1st base for Miami. Listed at 6-0 192, Kayfus is not the prototypical size for a corner infielder. But his handling of the bat makes up for any perceived deficiencies in size.
He'll enter the UVA series sporting a .346 / .462 / .617 slash line and 1.079 OPS. Among Miami regulars, he leads the Hurricanes in batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage.
His 7 home runs are second most on the team, just 1 behind team leader Carlos Perez.
Kayfus typically bats lead off, so his RBI numbers aren't among the team lead. But he's still driven in 21. Kayfus also leads the team in runs scored with 32, hits with 37, and walks with 21. He's also tied for the team lead with 6 stolen bases.
Last season in the series with UVA, Kayfus went 4 for 9 with 3 walks, 3 runs scored, 2 stolen bases, 2 RBI, and 1 strikeout.
Additional Notes
Miami is currently ranked 20th in the D1 Baseball Top 25 poll. They're also ranked 17th in the College Baseball Hub Composite Top 25 poll.
Miami has won the last 4 series against the Hoos. UVA's last series win came in 2017 in Charlottesville.
The winner of the series will ascend to the top of the ACC's Coastal Division.
Miami closer Andrew Walters may be the top closer in Division 1. He'll enter the series with 3 saves and a 1.46 ERA in 9 appearances this season.
April 7, 2023