Virginia coach Brian O’Connor put it the only way he could late Monday night: “This is why it’s a National Championship series and not a National Championship game.”

After a disastrous third inning squandered what turned out to be an otherwise dominant performance, that’s what O’Connor had to tell his club and anyone else that would listen. The Cavaliers allowed nine runs in that third inning and eventually fell 9-8 to Vanderbilt on Monday in the best-of-three College World Series Finals. UVa must win Tuesday night’s 8 p.m. ESPN contest to force a decisive game three on Wednesday.

“This is why it’s a National Championship series rather than a National Championship game,” O’Connor said. “Our guys, if we come and play with the heart like we did tonight, we’ll have a chance tomorrow night.”

The Hoos jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Branden Cogswell, Joe McCarthy, and Derek Fisher all recorded hits. But that early advantage disappeared quickly when a shocking third inning unfolded to put Virginia way behind on the scoreboard. Starting pitcher Nathan Kirby, who allowed just one hit in seven innings during his last outing against Mississippi, unraveled on the mound.

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