Founders Park will host Super Regional round of NCAAs this weekend
NCAA postseason baseball was still being played Tuesday at Founders Park in Columbia. There’ll be more this weekend.
The NCAA announced Tuesday that the stadium — the home of the South Carolina Gamecocks — is going to be the host venue for a Super Regional to be played Saturday through Sunday. The winner advances to the College World Series in Omaha.
Columbia’s Super Regional will feature Dallas Baptist taking on Virginia, which defeated Old Dominion 4-3 Tuesday in 10 innings. The finale of the UVa-ODU series at Founders Park was moved from Monday night to Tuesday morning because of rain.
In this year’s bracket, the regional being played in Columbia was paired with the one in Fort Worth, Texas. Both host teams at those regionals, South Carolina and TCU, were eliminated Sunday.
With the win, Virginia (33-24) advances to a Super Regional for the first time since 2015.
“I like to thank the hospitality here by South Carolina, the people here that work at the stadium, the grounds crew,” Virginia baseball coach Brian O’Connor said. “It has been 100 percent first class and accommodating and has made us very welcome. So we are fortunate for that.”
Virginia will stay in Columbia to prepare for this weekend’s Super Regional.
Under normal circumstances, the regional finals result would mean the last games played in Columbia this spring. But NCAA baseball tournament rules for this season added for the possibility of Founders Park the chance of hosting more baseball.
Neither Dallas Baptist nor Virginia — or Old Dominion — put in bids to host regionals or super regionals.
Under the unique tournament rules set by the NCAA amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 16 host sites were determined prior to the tournament field being announced. Host could be called upon to host a super regional between two teams that weren’t previously picked to host.
Virginia wins Columbia Regional
Devon Ortiz started the game on the mound and ended it at the plate.
The Virginia senior, who was the team’s starting pitcher to begin the game, hit a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the 10th and give the Cavaliers a 4-3 win over Old Dominion in the NCAA tournament’s Columbia regional final Tuesday at Founders Park.
“Holy crap,” Ortiz said in an ESPN interview. “Man, this is something you dream about when you are a little kid. I’m just so happy I was able to help my team advance.”
Ortiz got the start for Virginia despite only pitching two innings this season after having shoulder injuries. Ortiz pitched four scoreless innings and gave up just one hit.
Virginia lost its first game to South Carolina on Friday, then won four straight to get to its first Super Regional since 2015. The third-seeded Cavaliers are the third team since 1999 seeded No. 3 or No. 4 in an NCAA regional to lose its first game and then advance to a Super Regional.
The loss ends the season for Old Dominion (44-16), which was the No. 1 seed in the regional and was looking for its first trip to a Super Regional.
NCAA tournament Super Regional schedule
All games best-of-three series
Columbia Super Regional
At South Carolina
June 12: Dallas Baptist vs. Virginia, noon
June 13: Dallas Baptist vs. Virginia, noon
June 14: Dallas Baptist vs. Virginia, 1 p.m. (if necessary)
Knoxville Super Regional
At Tennessee
June 12: Tennessee vs. LSU, 7 p.m.
June 13: Tennessee vs. LSU, noon or 3 p.m.
June 14: Tennessee vs. LSU, 4 or 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Lubbock Super Regional
At Texas Tech
June 11: Texas Tech vs. Stanford, 3 p.m.
June 12: Texas Tech vs. Stanford, 3 p.m.
June 13: Texas Tech vs. Stanford, 3 p.m. (if necessary)
Tuscon Super Regional
At Arizona
June 11: Arizona vs. Ole Miss, 9 p.m.
June 12: Arizona vs. Ole Miss, 10 p.m.
June 13: Arizona vs. Ole Miss, 9 p.m. (if necessary)
Starkville Super Regional
At Mississippi State
June 12: Mississippi State vs. Notre Dame, 2 p.m.
June 13: Mississippi State vs. Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
June 14: Mississippi State vs. Notre Dame, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Nashville Super Regional
At Vanderbilt
June 11: Vanderbilt vs. East Carolina, noon
June 12: Vanderbilt vs. East Carolina, noon
June 13: Vanderbilt vs. East Carolina, 3 p.m. (if necessary)
Fayetteville Super Regional
At Arkansas
June 11: Arkansas vs. N.C. State, 6 p.m.
June 12: Arkansas vs. N.C. State, 3 p.m.
June 13: Arkansas vs. N.C. State, 6 p.m. (if necessary)
Austin Super Regional
At Texas
June 12: Texas vs. South Florida, 9 p.m.
June 13: Texas vs. South Florida, 9 p.m.
June 14: Texas vs. South Florida, 4 or 7 p.m. (if necessary)
This story was originally published June 8, 2021 at 8:33 AM.
