Cavs’ season ends with 12-inning loss to Razorbacks

OMAHA, Neb. — Brian O’Connor knew it would not be easy.

Virginia’s baseball coach did not know, however, just how long it would take.

After blowing a two-run lead in the top half of the ninth inning, Virginia fell 4-3 in 12 innings in Wednesday night’s elimination game against Arkansas in the College World Series.

The Cavaliers got a runner to third base in the bottom of the 12th, but Franco Valdes struck out to end UVa’s season.

Virginia stranded nine runners over the last four innings of the game.

The Cavaliers were in cruise control before the ninth inning thanks in part to starting pitcher Danny Hultzen.

The rookie delivered an RBI double and worked 6.1 innings on the mound as he made the start on just three days rest.

Hultzen set the tone early for Virginia, scattering five hits as he struck out seven batters in 6.1 innings. The rookie was charged with one earned run, which was allowed after he had been pulled from the contest.

Virginia opened the scoring in controversial fashion in the fifth inning.

Leading off the frame, rookie catcher John Hicks belted a fastball that appeared destined for the front row of the bleachers in left field. As the ball cleared the wall and reached a host of fans it was deflected back onto the field and was not originally ruled a home run.

O’Connor quickly ran onto the field to protest the ruling with third base umpire Tony Maners.

“That ball was gone,” O’Connor pleaded to Maners.

Indeed it was — and was ruled as such after the four umpires met to discuss the situation.

The blast, which was the eighth of the year for Hicks, was the first for the rookie since he connected on a towering blast against Clemson in the opening game of the ACC tournament.

Virginia quickly added to its lead, scoring again as Hultzen helped his own cause with a two-out double to left that plated John Barr.

The 2-0 lead stood until the seventh inning.

Arkansas (40-24) chased Hultzen from the contest then as it pushed two runners into scoring position as Bo Bigham reached on an error by Virginia third baseman Steven Proscia and with a double to left by Zack Cox.

Virginia padded its lead in the eighth as Dan Grovatt delivered an opposite-field homer to left field.

The run was needed.

With Kevin Arico in to close the contest, Arkansas sophomore Brett Eidner blasted a two-run, game-tying homer.

Virginia tried to answer in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, getting at least two runners on base in each situation, but Arkansas reliever Dallas Keuchel worked out of the jams.