Top College Baseball Teams Clash at Round Rock Classic This Weekend

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 2-ranked Virginia baseball team (2-1) is set to compete in the Round Rock Classic, starting Friday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m. against No. 7 Oregon State (4-0). The tournament will continue with the Cavaliers facing Minnesota (1-2) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and concluding with a game against Oklahoma (3-0) on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. All matches will be held at Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

The Round Rock Classic is a prestigious event that has previously featured national heavyweights like Arkansas and Tennessee, setting the stage for exciting matchups. Virginia enters the tournament after achieving two wins in three games at the Puerto Rico Challenge, with a notable performance against Lehigh.

This year’s Round Rock Classic showcases some of the country’s top teams, including the reigning College World Series champions. According to Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor, “This tournament offers our players an opportunity to compete against some of the best programs in college baseball, and we are excited to face Oregon State first, as they are known for their strong postseason performances.”

For the tournament opener on Friday, Oregon State’s starting pitcher will be left-hander Nelson Keljo, who holds a perfect 0.00 ERA across 4.0 innings pitched. Virginia counters with right-hander Jay Woolfolk, who has a 3.86 ERA after 4.2 innings this season. Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Virginia will showcase Bryson Moore (1.59 ERA) against Minnesota’s Kyle Remington (3.86 ERA), while on Sunday, Tomas Valincius (0.00 ERA) is set to pitch for Virginia against Oklahoma’s Cam Johnson (3.60 ERA).

Oklahoma, ranked No. 20/25, comes off a dominant weekend sweep of Lehigh, outscoring their opponent 36-7 over three games. Head coach Skip Johnson noted, “Our team showed great offensive power, and our pitching staff was impressive. We are looking to build on that momentum as we face Virginia this weekend.”

Virginia, the first ACC program invited to the Round Rock Classic, aims to continue building its reputation among national contenders. O’Connor’s squad holds a promising roster, and early statistics indicate an offense capable of performing well on bigger stages. “This weekend serves as a critical evaluation point for our team as we strive for postseason aspirations,” O’Connor added.

Games will be streamed live on D1Baseball.com, while radio coverage will be provided by WINA (98.9/1070 AM) in Virginia and The REF (99.3 FM/1400 AM) in Oklahoma. Fans can follow live stats through VirginiaSports.com.

As the tournament unfolds, anticipation grows among fans and players alike. Oklahoma’s presence in the same tournament adds another layer of excitement, with all eyes on their series against Virginia—both teams are looking to make strides in their national rankings as they tailor their strategies for the long season ahead.

With potent lineups and strong pitching rotations, this year’s Round Rock Classic promises to be filled with thrilling action and pivotal moments that could shape narratives for the rest of the season.