College Baseball Week 7 Highlights: Alabama Shines, Virginia Surges

This past week in college baseball was nothing short of thrilling. Standout performances, unexpected upsets, and pivotal series wins have shaken up the rankings. From Alabama’s impressive series victory over Oklahoma to Virginia Tech’s surprising sweep of Wake Forest, the landscape of college baseball continues to evolve.

In this post, we’ll dive into the highlights and key takeaways from week seven, providing in-depth analysis and expert insights.

Virginia Cavaliers: A Much-Needed Series Win

The Virginia Cavaliers have had a rocky start to their season, but their recent series win against Stanford has provided a glimmer of hope. The Cavaliers, who had been struggling with both offense and pitching, managed to secure a series victory that could be a turning point for their season.

Game One: Offense Awakens

The series opener saw Virginia clinch an 11-8 victory, thanks to a solid pitching performance from RHP Jay Woolfolk and a revitalized offense. The top three batters, Aidan Teel, Eric Becker, and Henry Ford, all went 2-for-4 with RBIs, while cleanup hitter Chris Arroyo hit a home run.

Game Two: Consistent Offense

Virginia continued their offensive surge in game two, with Luke Hanson and Chris Arroyo leading the charge. Becker’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh sealed a 13-7 victory. This win highlights the Cavaliers’ potential when their offense is firing on all cylinders.

Stanford’s Struggles

On the flip side, Stanford has been facing challenges, particularly with their pitching rotation. After being swept by Cal and now losing to Virginia, they have fallen to 5-7 in ACC play. The Cardinal will need to regroup quickly as they face a hot Georgia Tech team next week.

Notre Dame’s Incredible Rally

In South Bend, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish mounted an incredible late rally to dominate Florida State. Despite a slow start, the Irish exploded offensively from the sixth inning onward, scoring 14 runs and hitting five home runs.

Key Performers

Leadoff hitter Jared Zimbardo was a standout, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run. Designated hitter Bino Watters and catcher Carson Tinney also had strong performances at the plate. Freshman right-hander Chase Van Amedye was excellent in relief, striking out all four batters he faced.

Challenges Ahead

Despite this impressive win, Notre Dame has been inconsistent this season, currently sitting at 2-10 in ACC play. They will face a tough challenge next as they host a red-hot Virginia Tech squad.

Virginia Tech’s Dominance Over Wake Forest

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the weekend was Virginia Tech sweeping Wake Forest on the road. The Hokies doubled Wake Forest’s run total across three games, showcasing their offensive prowess and resilience.

Game One: Early Offensive Explosion

Virginia Tech set the tone with a 13-2 rout in game one, thanks to a nine-run first inning. Third baseman Hudson Letterman led the charge, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and five RBIs.

Game Two: Consistent Pressure

In game two, the Hokies’ offense continued to shine, securing an 11-8 victory. First baseman Garrett Michel had a strong performance, and reliever Grant Manning pitched 4.1 innings, allowing only two hits with five strikeouts.

Game Three: Late-Inning Heroics

The final game was a back-and-forth affair, but Virginia Tech’s relentless offense put up four runs in the ninth inning to secure a 6-5 victory and a series sweep. The Hokies have now won five in a row, with the last four coming on the road.

Alabama’s Impressive Series Win Over Oklahoma

Alabama’s series win over Oklahoma was a significant achievement, as many had the Sooners ranked higher. The Crimson Tide showcased their depth and resilience, particularly in the series opener and the decisive game three.

Series Opener: Late-Inning Rally

In the series opener, Alabama defeated Oklahoma 8-6, highlighted by a pivotal three-run rally in the eighth inning. Justin Lebron led the offense, going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run, while Kade Snell recorded his seventh consecutive multi-hit game.

Game Three: Early Dominance

Alabama secured the series win with an 8-6 victory in game three. The Crimson Tide jumped to an early 8-1 lead, thanks to home runs from Jason Torres and Will Hodo. Starting pitcher Aederi Finateri delivered a strong performance, allowing two runs over 4.2 innings.

Other Notable Performances and Upsets

This week also saw several other notable performances and upsets across college baseball. Here are some highlights:

• Florida State continued its struggles, losing to rival Florida.
• Virginia took a midweek loss to Liberty.
• Cincinnati upset #23 Louisville 12-2.
• Nichols beat #21 Southern Miss 8-5.
• Missouri State won in extras against #2 Arkansas 14-13.
• Wofford destroyed #25 Troy 14-3.
• Abilene Christian took down #17 Dallas Baptist 7-1.

MLB Draft Spotlight: Petry’s Rise

One player who has been turning heads is Petry, whose performance this season has significantly improved his draft stock. Petry has reduced his strikeout rate from 25.3% to 12.1% and increased his contact rate to 78%. His ability to handle velocity and make adjustments at the plate has been impressive.

Pitcher and Hitter Stats of the Week

Here are some standout pitcher and hitter stats from the past week:

Pitcher Stats

• Blake Gillespie, Charlotte: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 K
• Cade Obermueller, Iowa: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K
• Grayson Grinsell, Oregon: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
• Kolten Smith, Georgia: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
• Justin Mitrovich, Elon: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K

Hitter Stats

• Gavin Turley, Oregon State: 8-for-15, 2B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, BB
• Hollis Porter, Maryland: 12-for-19, 4 2B, 4 HR, 15 RBI, BB
• Alex Lodise, Florida State: 10-for-20, 2 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 8 RBI
• Kyle Lodise, Georgia Tech: 8-for-16, 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 3 BB
• Ike Irish, Auburn: 8-for-18, 3 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, BB

Upcoming Games to Watch

Looking ahead, there are several exciting matchups on the horizon:

• #22 Louisville vs Indiana (Tuesday)
• #13 Arizona vs. Grand Canyon (Tuesday)
• #22 Ole Miss vs. Kentucky (Thursday-Saturday)
• #4 LSU vs. #12 Oklahoma (Thursday-Saturday)
• Duke vs. North Carolina (Thursday-Saturday)
• #3 Georgia vs. #6 Texas (Friday-Sunday)
• #7 Wake Forest vs. #5 Florida State (Friday-Sunday)
• #11 Alabama vs. #19 Auburn (Friday-Sunday)
• Texas A&M vs. #1 Tennessee (Friday-Sunday)
• #24 UC Irvine vs. #9 Oregon State (Friday-Sunday)
• #20 Georgia Tech vs. #18 Stanford (Friday-Sunday)
• #13 Arizona vs. Arizona State (Friday-Sunday)

For more detailed analysis and updates, be sure to check out the full article on Just Baseball.