In an expected move earlier this week, left-handed pitcher Matt Packer inked a contract with the Cleveland Indians, ending a stellar career at Virginia that included the honor of leading the nation in earned run average in 2008.

Selected in the 32nd round in the MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians, Packer has until Aug. 17 to come to an agreement with the
organization or he will return to the University of Virginia for his senior season.

Sitting in his downtown hotel room, Andrew Carraway had a moment that was tough to describe.

With their price tags known, the stock of Virginia juniors Tyler Cannon and Matt Packer dropped in the eyes of Major League Baseball scouts. That was evident Thursday in the draft.

All but headed for a series-clinching victory, a costly error in the eighth inning by the Rebels opened the door for a 4-3 come-from-behind victory for Virginia in the Oxford Super Regional.

It will, in fact, be Packer that takes the ball in Virginia’s long-awaited opener in the ACC tournament against Clemson (39-11, 19-11 ACC) on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in North Carolina.

In Richmond, the smooth left-handed pitcher that led the nation in earned run average in 2008 was finally back in his purest form Tuesday night.

Boston College evened the weekend series with No. 13 Virginia with a 9-6 victory at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Shea Field.

Maryland center fielder Dan Benick smashed a grand slam in the eighth inning off Virginia closer Matt Packer, changing the momentum and lifting the Terrapins to an 8-7 victory.

Virginia, ranked No. 14 in the country, scored four two-out runs in the seventh inning, including the game-winner, as it dispatched Marshall 5-4 at Davenport Field.

Thrust into a one-run game in the eighth inning, Packer did not disappoint as Virginia added an insurance run and held on to beat Wake Forest 8-6 to claim the season-opening series.

For obvious reasons, what Virginia coach Brian O’Connor called the “play of the game” was overshadowed.

Virginia’s baseball team has a new favorite sound — or lack thereof. After Michael Schwimer successfully retired Florida State phenom Buster Posey on a liner to short in the ninth inning, a hush fell over the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

In the first 16 starts of his collegiate career, most of which came last season, Matt Packer had never managed to retire a batter in the seventh inning. That changed Thursday night at Davenport Field in what could easily have been Virginia’s most important contest to date.

For the first time since 2006, North Carolina has claimed a regular season series over Virginia.