It’s 2025 Opening Day for Division I college baseball — and the first big upset came just hours after the season’s start. #2/#4 Virginia, a College World Series team in 2024, started their 2025 campaign in Puerto Rico against Michigan. However, the Cavaliers left Michigan in the game for too long and ultimately lost on an error in the 11th inning.
The Michigan Wolverines completed the upset against Virginia in the 11th inning, thanks to a line drive from Matt Spear that got by UVA first baseman Antonio Perrotta, which was scored as an error. Mitch Voit scored from first base to get Michigan a 5-4 victory.
UPSET! Unranked Michigan beat #2 Virginia on a walk-off that scored Mitch Voit from 1st base. Another year where a top-5 team goes down on Opening Day. pic.twitter.com/wW07qIlqhj
— New Baseball Media (@NewBBMedia) February 14, 2025
Speaking of Voit, the 2025 MLB Draft prospect had a solid day for the Wolverines. Voit notched a pair of hits, a great start for what will be a pivotal year for the two-way athlete.
As for the Cavaliers, the loss is a tough start for a team that came into the year with clear championship aspirations. Virginia returned several notable players, in Harrison Didawick and Jay Woolfolk, both who were eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft.
Woolfolk pitched fine, with strikeouts over 4.2 IP and only conceded two earned runs.
Shortstop Eric Becker, who batted .362 as a freshman last year, notched three hits for UVA on Opening Day. Aiden Teel picked up two hits.
It’s the second-straight year a top-five school lost on Opening Day. Last year, the St. John’s (NY) Red Storm beat the Florida Gators in a wild game. And oddly enough, the Gators were also coming off a College World Series birth the year earlier.