Virginia left-hander Danny Hultzen used his last start as a pitcher before tomorrow’s baseball draft to showcase all he will bring to the next level.
Hultzen (11-3) allowed three hits and one run in seven innings and struck out 12 as Virginia, the top national seed, routed St. John’s 10-2 in a winner’s bracket game in the Charlottesville Regional. He also went 2 for 3 with an RBI before coming out of the lineup.
Hultzen was not willing to talk about his draft status after the game, but coach Brian O’Connor and St. John’s coach Ed Blankmeyer were more than willing to offer their assessments.
“He possesses all the qualities you want out of a player and out of an All-American player,” O’Connor said of the two-time Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year. “He’s not out there trying to throw harder to impress people. He’s not out there trying to strike out more people to impress people. He’s just being himself and doing what it takes for his team to win.”
Hultzen, expected to be one of the top picks in the draft for his pitching, finished his night by striking out the side in the seventh inning before being replaced by Whit Mayberry. Hultzen also picked a runner off first base, and is now 5-for-7 as a hitter with four RBIs through two games.
“Danny Hultzen is a special talent,” Blankmeyer said. “I’m sitting in the first spot, I’m taking him. Dominant. Deceptive. Very tough to hit at 6 o’clock when you have the shadows.”
The Red Storm didn’t face Hultzen last year when they took Virginia all the way to Monday night before the Cavaliers prevailed, and slugger Jeremy Baltz wished they had missed him again.
“You read about him and you don’t understand how effective he is until you get in that batter’s box,” Baltz said after striking out three times against Hultzen.
Jacksonville 5, Manhattan 4
In Gainesville, Fla., Adam Brett Walker had three hits and drove in two runs, helping Jacksonville eliminate Manhattan 5-4.
Walker, who broke the school’s single-season record for hits and total bases, had an RBI double in the first and a run-scoring single in the seventh as the Dolphins (37-23) ousted the Jaspers (34-19). Jacksonville advanced to play Miami, a 5-4 loser to Florida.
“I can’t say they stole it, but they capitalized on the gifts we gave them,” Manhattan coach Kevin Leighton said. “They capitalized on all of our mistakes.”
Texas A&M 6, Seton Hall 3
In College Station, Texas, Adam Smith hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and Ross Stripling threw a four-hitter as Texas A&M defeated Seton Hall to advance to the College Station Regional final.
Stripling (13-2), Texas A&M’s No. 3 starter during the regular season, allowed just four hits against Seton Hall (34-24) in the 95-degree heat. The Aggies (44-18) will play the winner of today’s Arizona-Seton Hall elimination game.
UConn 13, Sacred Heart 3
In Clemson, S.C., Connecticut raced to an early 10-run lead and coasted to a victory over Sacred Heart in an elimination game.
Ryan Fuller had four hits for the Huskies, and Pat Butler (3-1) got the victory in relief. The Huskies had 18 hits against four Sacred Heart pitchers.
Texas St. 3, Princeton 1
In Austin, Texas, Mitchell Pitts was solid for seven-plus innings, and Texas State scored three runs on sacrifice flies to beat Princeton in an elimination game.