The UVA baseball team began the 2012 season at Davenport Field the same way they finished it in 2011: A walk off win.
Freshman Mike Papi singled in Chris Taylor and Mitchell Shifflett with the game winning runs, as Virginia (2-1-1) beat William & Mary 6-5 in 11 innings Wednesday.
It was Taylor driving in Shifflett and Corey Hunt to send the Wahoos to the College World Series in their last game at Davenport Field back in June.
Papi went 1-4 with a run, 2 walks, and the game-winning RBI in his first game in the Cavaliers home ball park.
The freshman rightfielder says, "For me, there's a lot of pressure, yeah, but I like pressure. I love to try to contribute to help the overall effort of the team."
Head coach Brian O'Connor adds, "When you win a game like that at home, in your first home game, and you're at the plate with a chance to win it for your club, and you do it, you got to walk away with a lot of confidence, certainly."
Senior Jared King went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI and helped spark a Virginia rally with a bases clearing double in the 8th.
The Cavaliers trailed 4-0 heading into the inning, before scoring 4 runs to tie the game.
Justin Thompson pitched three innings in relief for the win.
UVA will be back at home this weekend, as they host Monmouth in a three game series beginning Friday at 3pm.
