OMAHA, Neb. — Virginia’s first trip to the College World Series provided the Cavaliers with a lifetime of memories.

First, they’ll have to wrestle with thoughts of what might have been.

Virginia’s stay in Omaha ended Wednesday night with a 4-3, 12-inning loss to Arkansas. The Cavaliers were one strike away from closing out the Razorbacks in nine innings. They had the winning run 90 feet from home in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, and the tying run at third base in the 12th.

"We had opportunities from the bottom of the ninth right there until the end,’’ Virginia right fielder Dan Grovatt said. "We just didn’t come up with the big hit.’’

Nor did Virginia come up with the big pitch that could have prevented the Razorbacks from tying the score in the ninth or winning it in the 12th. Closer Kevin Arico had a one-ball, two-strike count on Arkansas’ Zack Cox but then gave up a sharp single to center. Three pitches later, Brett Eibner launched a changeup from Arico halfway up the bleachers in left field.

Andrew Carraway, who got the final out of the ninth to strand two runners, retired the eight hitters he faced before giving up Jarrod McKinney’s single. McKinney stole second and then scored when Andrew Darr ripped the final pitch of a 10-pitch at bat down the third-base line for a double.

Darr fouled off four pitches before working the count to 3-2. One of the foul balls landed just out of the reach of Virginia first baseman John Hicks. What if . . .

"I thought we pitched well, swung the bats and had a lot of opportunities,’’ Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. "We didn’t capitalize on all of them. You have to credit Arkansas. They made some big pitches and clutch plays.’’

A couple of base-running mistakes and a fielding error that led to Arkansas’ first run also contributed to cutting short Virginia’s first visit and ending its season at 49-15-1.

In a lengthy postgame meeting in the outfield grass, O’Connor thanked his players for getting him back to Omaha. He grew up across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and played college baseball at Creighton.

As a player, he experienced a similar CWS heartbreak as he was the losing pitcher in the Bluejays’ 3-2, 12-inning loss to Wichita State, a game that many observers consider the best ever played in Rosenblatt Stadium.

"I told the guys after the game I couldn’t take the hurt and the pain away from them,’’ O’Connor said. "I know this means so much to them and that we legitimately felt coming here that we could win the national championship.

"When you put so much into something and you have everything right there in front of you, it’s painful when it doesn’t happen. I told them I was proud of each and every one of them.’’

Providing O’Connor and his players a dash of consolation is the knowledge that most will return to get another shot next season. Pitchers Carraway, Robert Poutier and Brad Grove and catcher Will Campbell are the only seniors on the roster. Carraway was the only one of the four to see action in Omaha.

"We were a young team looking to prove something, and I think we did that,’’ said Steven Proscia, a freshman infielder. "We have a lot of young guys coming back next year, and hopefully we can make a trip back next year.’’

Given what Virginia accomplished in its sixth season under O’Connor and what it returns next season, the Cavaliers should be among a handful of teams that will start 2010 as one of the national championship favorites.

"Getting here gave our program a great taste of what it means to get to Omaha,’’ O’Connor said. "We now understand what this event is all about. I think our program is in a great position. It’s exciting to think that about 95 percent of our club is back next year and that we have one heck of a recruiting class coming in.

"The competition in our program will be the best it’s ever been. There will be expectations on this team that this program has never had before. These players need to accept that and understand the responsibility that comes with that. Hopefully, we’ll have an even better club next year.’’