All-Times Eastern
TV: Friday 4pm (ACCNX), Sat 1pm (ACCNX), Sunday 12pm (ACCNX)
Virginia Cavaliers (UVA leads series 28-8)
2025 Record: 8-3
Current Rank: #9
2025 Preseason Predicted Finish: 1st
Home Field: Davenport Field at Disharoon Park (332/370/404/370/332)
At 4-5, Boston College has definitely started off behind the 8 ball this baseball season, but with about 45 games remaining, there’s still time, but it must start now. Unfortunately, NOW is the start of three consecutive ACC series vs. Preseason Top 10 teams. Birdball spent the week in Virginia, and had a few days to reflect on the latest bullpen debacle, giving up 7 runs in the final 2 innings to lose to Longwood on Tuesday 13-12. The last 3 innings have been an issue through the first 3 weeks, as the team was either tied or led in the Bottom of the 7th in 8 of the 9 games, and 1 strike away from wins in 2 of those games they eventually lost (2/22 vs. UNO, 3/4 vs Longwood). This is why I feel that this season isn’t over, that if they can change some faces in some roles, that things can turn out different down the stretch. By looking at the starting pitchers in this series, there are some changes on the way……(more shortly)
UVA started the season as the Preseason #2 team in the country, but “struggled” out of the gate, going 3-3 in the 2 early season tournaments they participated in. The Cavaliers would go 2-1 in Puerto Rico, losing the opener in extras to Michigan, then defeating Villanova and Rice. Round Rock was a little tougher for UVA, winning only 1 of 3, having beat Minnesota inbetween losses to Oregon State and Oklahoma. Since coming home to Charlottesville, the team is back to its old self, having won 5 in a row entering the weekend series.
Some Notes going against BC in this series……
- UVA has won 13 straight at home dating back to 2024
- BC is 8-28 all-time vs. UVA, and 1-17 in Charlottesville (only win in 2018)
- UVA has the 2nd best ERA in the ACC and 6th Nationally (2.56), 13th Nationally in Strikeouts/9 (11.6), and the defense is 14th Nationally in Fielding Percentage
UVA Players to Watch:
|
Unanimous ’25 1st-Team All-American |
JR 2B |
#2 Henry Godbout |
.333 14-42, 0 HR 5 RBI |
|
D1Baseball ’25 3rd Team All-American |
JR 1B/P |
#23 Chris Arroyo |
.231 9-39, 3 HR, 11 RBI |
|
D1Baseball ’25 1st Team All-American |
GR C |
#28 Jacob Ference |
.280 7-25, 1 HR, 4 RBI |
|
Perfect Game ’25 1st Team AA |
SO OF |
#9 Henry Ford |
.386 17-44, 0 HR, 5 RBI |
Projected Starting Pitchers:
|
Boston College |
Opponent |
|
|
Friday |
SO RHP #46 Kyle Kipp (0-0, 10.13) |
SR RHP #4 Jay Woolfolk (1-0, 2.63 ERA) |
|
Saturday |
SR LHP #21 Tyler Mudd (0-1, 6.17) |
FR LHP #1 Tomas Valincius (2-0, 2.12 ERA) |
|
Sunday |
TBD |
TBD |
Career vs. UVA
Kipp: 1 IP, 2 BB
Career vs. BC
Woolfolk: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1 HBP
|
Team Stats (Leader in Parenthesis) |
BC (4-5) |
UVA (8-3) |
|
Batting Average |
.297 (Ragsdale .353) |
.306 (Ford/Eric Becker .386) |
|
Home Runs |
8 (Wolff 3) |
9 (Arroyo 3) |
|
RBI |
59 (Wolff 10) |
67 (Arroyo 11) |
|
Stolen Bases |
32/34 (Magpoc 11) |
19/22 (3 tied w/ 3 each) |
|
Wins |
4 (Cesar Gonzalez 2) |
8 (2 tied w/ 2 each) |
|
ERA |
7.49 |
2.56 |
|
Strikeouts |
83 |
127 |
|
Home Runs Allowed |
10 |
3 |
Weekend Preview Summary
Certainly not somewhere I’d want to start the ACC season. Offensively, UVA has Preseason All-Americans from various publications throughout their lineup, starting with Consensus All-American 2B Henry Godbout. Great defender with a career .424 OBP, who has reached base in 31 straight games. OF Henry Ford is on a 9 game hitting streak and has 6 multi-hit games already this year. C Jacob Ference hit .350 17 HR 43 RBI as a D3 transfer last year. I can go on and on about their offense. They’ll get on base, they’ll hit well situationally, and rarely make mistakes on the basepaths. There’s a reason why UVA has been to Omaha 3 of the last 4 years. This year they are at 8-3, without their ace (Evan Blanco from Woburn/Austin Prep) being fully healthy. Woolfolk has stepped over from the bullpen to fill-in as the Friday Night Starter. BC faced him in relief last year, so they’ll be familiar with him. Valincius is leading all Freshmen nationally in strikeouts, so he’ll be tough from the left side. BC will need to scrape and claw offensively to have any shot, especially with the way the pitching has been. Last year when these two met, BC had a shot at winning the series. Having won Game 1 at Fenway 8-2, BC had bases loaded 1 out tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 8th and could not score. UVA was able to get 1 run in the 9th on a mess of an inning, featuring walks, bunts, throwing errors, and more bunts. I’m going to stick with my preseason prediction that BC will take 1 of 3, as I can see them putting together enough innings (particularly with Mudd pitching Saturday) to keep the scoreboard at Davenport Field from malfunctioning.
