The Virginia baseball team is going to play for the National Championship. The Hoos solidified their spot in the best two of three final series with a 4-1 win against Mississippi on Saturday.

When play resumed Saturday in a suspended game in Omaha, it looked like UVa may need another chance to earn that spot. The Cavaliers picked up Friday night’s storm-out with runners on first and second and zero outs, but stranded both in the top of the two-day second inning. After the bottom half of that same frame, they trailed 1-0. Ole Miss hitter Will Allen singled to lead off the inning, advanced on a passed ball, and eventually scored on a double steal.

Friday’s promising start had vanished into the Saturday afternoon sunshine but even though the momentum had shifted, the Hoos didn’t panic.

“I’d like to say that our team, these last three weeks has played with an incredible amount of poise. And I really believe that at champion time, it takes poise and patience to prevail,” Cavalier coach Brian O’Connor said. “I’d be lying to you if I tell you when we have bases loaded and that there isn’t a little bit of uneasiness, I think that’s normal. I just go back to this team and the calmness and the poise that it’s shown all year long in difficult situations. And that makes you feel good and comfortable as a coach. And we all had confidence in Josh. He showed what he’s capable of doing. You think about it, after starting last night and coming back and doing what he did, I was confident that some way we’d figure out a way.”

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