Packer tabbed to start ACC tournament opener

A flashback could have made the decision for Virginia coach Brian O’Connor.

In selecting an opening-game starter for the ACC tournament, the Cavaliers’ skipper could have analyzed film of a start made April 21, 2007 at Clemson.

In that road game, Matt Packer, a previously unknown rookie, retired 16 of the 22 Tiger batters he faced. All the while, the southpaw failed to allow an earned run, buying time for a late-game victory for the Cavaliers.

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. The league tournament itself will start today with three contests, and five games will be played before Virginia takes the field.

“He was a freshman at the time and was in our rotation,” O’Connor said. “Matt Packer pitched a great ballgame against a Clemson team that eventually advanced to a Super Regional.”

History, however, was not the determining factor in O’Connor’s decision-making process.

“I think he gives us the best chance to win that first game,” O’Connor pointed out following Tuesday’s practice session in Durham, N.C. “It is also done based on last weekend and who has had proper rest and what you want to try to do working into next weekend and an NCAA Regional.”

Packer, a junior, started in the series opener last week against Virginia Tech, making his first league start of the season. The junior pitched six innings and allowed four runs (two earned) as he gave up five hits and three walks to the Hokies.

While he did not factor into the decision, three errors committed by third baseman Steven Proscia skewed Packer’s final line. Virginia (39-12-1, 16-11-1 ACC) ultimately lost 5-4 on a walk-off homer in the 10th inning.

“Even after some of the errors, I was able to keep us in the game and we were right there in the end,” said Packer, who boasts an ERA of 3.97. “It felt good to know that I could throw 100 pitches or more if I needed to.”

Packer (3-4) led the nation in earned run average in 2008 as he worked as a starter and a reliever, but the lefty struggled at times pitching out of Virginia’s bullpen this season.

That said, Packer was elated that O’Connor would turn to him against third-seeded Clemson.

“It is great to know that your coach has that much confidence in you to put you in the first game of the tournament,” Packer said.

O’Connor also announced that rookie Danny Hultzen (7-1, 2.28 ERA) would start against North Carolina in Friday’s game, which is slated to start at 8 p.m.

Hultzen, who also rotated between first base and designated hitter, was named the ACC freshman of the year on Monday. He became the first Cavalier in program history to win the award.

“I am happy for Danny,” O’Connor said. “He is very deserving. Obviously to be a Friday night starter and have the numbers that he did and hit in the middle of our lineup is a tough thing for a freshman to do.

“There is no question that he deserved that award.”

Hultzen shifted focus from the individual award to the job that the offense and defense managed in his seven victories.

“Nobody can win an individual award without the team,” the rookie said. “It is definitely a team thing. I just happened to get the award for it.”

It was not an honor that Hultzen contemplated during the season.

“I didn’t really think about that for one minute,” he said. “I don’t want to think about that stuff while I am playing. I just want to play my game.”

The final starter, which will work against seventh-seeded Duke on Saturday at 8 p.m., will be announced later in the week. Options include RHP Andrew Carraway, RHP Robert Morey and RHP Will Roberts.