The Virginia Cavaliers held off the Vanderbilt Commodores’ best effort to repeat as national champs in Game 3 last night, coming back from a 2-0 deficit early, defeating Vandy 4-2 and capturing their first Baseball national championship in the school’s history. The Cavs are just the second ACC school to win a national championship in baseball and the first to do so since Wake Forest won it all in 1955.

Vanderbilt got the party started early, tallying two runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout and an RBI double down the left field line. It would stay that way until the top of the fourth when Baseball Factory alumnus, Pavin Smith homered to right following a walk to tie the game at two.

Pavin Smith

Smith, the Cavaliers freshman first baseman, participated in the 2012 Team One Futures Series East and the 2013 Under Armour Memorial Day Classic and Fall Classic events. He finished the night going 2-for-3, later adding an RBI single in the top of the fifth, driving in three of Virginia’s four runs.

Virginia tacked on another run in the seventh to secure the victory and had an outstanding pitching performance when they needed it the most from Brandon Waddell. Waddell pitched seven innings, scattering four hits with two earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts on 104 pitches. 

Waddell participated in a Under Armour Baseball Factory Premium Video Program and attended the Under Armour Southwest Regional Tournament in 2011.

Last night’s championship win is the University of Virginia’s 23rd in the school’s athletic history and is the school’s third athletic championship this season as baseball joins men’s soccer and tennis as champions.