Maybe it’s just the pessimism that comes from following an athletic program with a tendency to fail spectacularly in important games, but I’m having a hard time getting the optimism going for tonight’s game. We really should have taken care of business yesterday. Now, we’ve got a loose St. Johns team throwing about words like “reeling.”

Reasons to be optimistic:
a.) the team has yet to lose consecutive games this season
b.) it’s a nice day for baseball (a reach? sure)
c.) Nick Cenatiempo, the Red Storm’s most likely starter, is just 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA this season. He’s allowed 80 baserunners in just 39 innings, a number that suggests that a.) we should be able to hit Cenatiempo and b.) he isn’t very good.

Reasons to be pessimistic:
a.) Danny Hultzen & Robert Morey will not – in any circumstance – be available to pitch tonight
b.) St. Johns’ ace, Kyle Hansen, could possibly make an appearance tonight. Hansen’s 8-2 with a 3.55 ERA, and went just four innings on Friday against Ole Miss.
c.) the 2-3-4 spots in the Cavalier order are hitting just .277 with seven RBI in the Regional (thanks, Sabre).

Branden Kline and Cody Winiarksi can get us through six innings, and Kevin Arrico can finish things off. The key for the Cavaliers tonight will be bridging the gap between them. Justin Thompson, Will Roberts and Chad O’Connor could all conceivably get a call – something that makes me nervous as none of those guys are big game tested.