CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Branden Kline pitched 5 1-3 solid innings and Virginia got just enough offense to advance to the super regional with a 5-3 victory against St. John’s on Monday night.
The Cavaliers advanced to their first super regional at home in program history.
Virginia (50-12) set a school record for victories in a season by prevailing in a game that was very much like the one St. John’s won on Sunday night. Only this time, reliever Kevin Arico stymied the Red Storm late with 3 2-3 shutout innings to finish them off.
St. John’s (43-20) won twice on Sunday to force the deciding game, and got good enough pitching from Kyle Hansen and three relievers to win, but couldn’t get the key hit.
Kline (5-0) and Arico scattered 11 hits and escaped jams in the sixth and eighth innings.