NC State Drops ACC Championship Opener Against Virginia, 4-2

DURHAM, N.C. – The eighth-ranked NC State baseball team was edged by Virginia, 4-2, in its ACC Championship opener Thursday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Wolfpack had the tying and go-ahead run on base in the eighth but was unable to get the run across.

NC State returns to action Friday evening against Florida State at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the semifinals on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. to face the winner of the Duke/Louisville game.

The Wolfpack falls to 40-15 on the year and the Cavs conclude their season with a 29-25 overall record, after losing their first game of the conference championship against Florida State on Tuesday.

Avent’s Additions
Opening Statement…
“I thought we played good tonight, but we ran into a Virginia team that played very well,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “I mean, you saw their Florida State game Tuesday. They had so many opportunities to win that game, and I’ve said it before, that’s a good ballclub. You saw the pitching from Abbott and Lynch the other night, and then what we saw from Casey and Sousa today.

“They’ve got a heck of a coaching staff, they’ve got a heck of a team, and tonight they were better.”

Quick Hits
– NC State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the game after a solo home run from Patrick Bailey in the top of the second.
– The ACC Freshman of the Year drove a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right field for his 11thhome run.
– In the third inning, the Wolfpack extended its lead to 2-0 after a two-out RBI single by Josh McLain.
– Shane Shepard led off the frame with a single and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt and groundout to score on the play.
– Virginia answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to level the score at two after an RBI single from Jake McCarthy and a sac fly by Andy Weber.
– The Cavaliers took a 3-2 lead in the fourth after a throwing error by the Pack allowed the runner to score from third.
– NC State threatened in the top of the eighth after a two-out walk to Josh McLain and a double by Will Wilson, but unfortunately was unable to score a run to knot the score.
– Virginia tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half to take a 4-2 advantage and held on for the win.

Inside the Box Score
– Bailey led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 2-for-4 outing, including a solo homer and a double.
– Shepard also tallied two hits in the contest with a single and a double, while McLain and Wilson each had one hit.
– Wilson’s double extended his hitting streak to nine games, dating back to the first game against James Madison on May 8.

On the Mound
– Freshman Reid Johnston started on the mound for the Pack but struggled with his command and gave way to David Harrison in the third.
– Harrison pitched 2.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts but was charged with the loss after allowing an unearned run.
– Nick Swiney pitched 1.2 innings, while Nolan Clenney and Evan Justice each threw a third of an inning.
– Mathieu Gauthier closed out the game on the mound with the final two-thirds of an inning.

On Deck
NC State returns to action tomorrow night against Florida State at 7 p.m. in its second game of the ACC Championship. The winner will advance to the semifinals on Saturday at 5 p.m. and face the winner of Duke and Louisville.