CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- Top-seeded Virginia scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to edge UC Irvine, 3-2, in the final game of the Charlottesville Super Regional Monday at Davenport Field.
The `Eaters (43-18) were one out away from advancing to the College World Series in Omaha but the Cavaliers' Chris Taylor singled up the middle to score the tying and winning runs.
UCI had broken a 1-1 tie in the top half of the ninth as Sean Madigan led off with a single to center and Brian Hernandez laid down a bunt in front of the plate. Virginia catcher John Hicks elected to go to second, but his throw tailed away from the fielder into right-center field and Madigan advanced to third.
Madigan then scored on a double-play ball hit by Drew Hillman to put the `Eaters up 2-1 before Jordan Fox flew out.
UCI junior right-hander Matt Summers, who had entered the game in the bottom of the eighth when he induced a double-play ball to end the inning, retired Danny Hultzen and Kenny Swab to open the bottom of the ninth.
Virginia's David Coleman singled to center on a 1-2 pitch to begin the rally and Mitchell Shifflett came into pinch-run at first.
Jared King then hit a hard grounder up the middle that caromed off the foot of Summers for an infield single with Shifflett advancing to second.
Pinch-hitter Reed Gragnani walked, loading the bases, and Corey Hunt entered the game to pinch-run for King at second.
Taylor then singled up the middle, scoring Shifflett and Hunt to send Virginia (54-10) to Omaha.
The `Eaters opened the scoring in the top of the fourth when D.J. Crumlich doubled to left, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Madigan and scored on a groundout by Brian Hernandez.
The Cavaliers tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out homer to left by Swab.
Junior right-hander Crosby Slaight started the game on the mound for UCI and threw three scoreless innings. Freshman southpaw Jimmy Litchfield then pitched 4.1 innings in relief, allowing three hits and one run.
Summers took the loss, falling to 11-4 on the season. Crumlich had three hits and ommy Reyes two to lead the UCI offense.
Will Roberts pitched the first 7.1 innings for Virginia before Branden Kline entered the game with one out in the eighth and picked up the win to improve to 4-1.
Taylor, Swab, Hicks and Coleman had two hits each for the Cavaliers.
UCI, which won the 2011 Los Angeles Regional as the No. 3 seed, was making its sixth consecutive postseason appearance and seventh in the past eight years. The `Eaters were in their third super regional in the past five seasons, advancing also in 2007 and 2008. UCI went 2-2 at the 2007 College World Series.
UCI head coach Mike Gillespie guided a team into the postseason for the 19th time in his career that began on the NCAA Division I level at USC. His Anteater teams have averaged 42 wins over the past four seasons.
