Brian O'Connor shares thoughts on Virginia's bullpen

Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor was critical of his bullpen following Friday night’s 6-5 loss to Florida that saw the Cavaliers allow five runs in the final three innings.

O’Connor said that he didn’t “feel great,” about how his relievers pitched. He called out their inconsistencies this year, calling their performances a “mixed bag,” all year. The Virginia head coach explained his game plan on the mound after the loss, and why it worked in the Gators’ favor.

“The plan coming into the game was, if we had a lead in the eighth inning, was to go with Jake Berry. And that formula’s worked for us a lot this year,” O’Connor said after the opening round loss. “I don’t know for sure, but I [wouldn’t] be surprised if all year that we [haven’t] lost a game putting Jake Berry in the eighth inning or beyond with a lead.

“… And we have other guys that haven’t been used that have done the job for us all year long. So it’s going to take a collective effort by our entire group. [Evan] Blanco and [Jack] O’Connor didn’t throw many pitches today, and we have several other guys. But it’s going to start by getting a high-quality start on Sunday, whoever that is and then piecing it together.”

Blanco and O’Connor only pitched 0.1 innings a piece, but Berry played 1.2 innings and allowed four hits, including three home runs, which scored four earned runs and led to the Gators win. Jay Woolfolk relieved Berry for the final third of the inning to finish off the night’s defensive assignments and ended the inning in three pitches.

Now, Virginia drops down to the consolation bracket and will take on TCU in an elimination match on Sunday afternoon. A win for the Cavaliers would move them into the semifinals of the consolation bracket, where they would face the loser of Monday’s Wake Forest vs. LSU game. A loss would send the Cavaliers back to Charlottesville empty-handed.

“And, so, that said, when you’re in this situation that we are on Sunday, we will do whatever it takes to win that game to try to advance on to the next one,” O’Connor said.

The first pitch against the Horned Frogs is set for 2 p.m. ET live on ESPN and ESPN+. According to Caesars Sportsbook, Virginia is the betting favorite (-210) heading into the matchup. The over/under is set at 11.5.