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May 17, 2002
RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Virginia baseball team dropped a 10-2 decision to the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the first contest of a three-game series at Doak Field. UVa took its first and only lead by the score of 2-1 in the top of the fourth inning before the Wolfpack erupted to score nine unanswered runs to post an eight-run victory.
N.C. State scored the first run of the game and took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Joe Gaetti blasted a solo home run (his 11th of the season) deep over the left field wall. Virginia took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Matt Street (walk) and Dan Street (double) each reached base before both baserunners scored a run on a two-run, RBI-single down the right field line by Robert Word to give the Cavaliers a 2-1 lead. D. Street’s double was his 21st of the season, setting a new UVa single season record.
However, the Wolfpack regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning and took a 3-2 lead when Brian Wright connected on a two-run home run to right field. N.C. State extended its lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Adam Hargrave singled and scored a run three batters later on a wild pitch on an intentional pitch out by Shooter Starr, before Gaetti scored his third run of the game on a RBI-double to left field by Colt Morton.
The Wolfpack extended their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Jeremy Dutton walked before scoring from third base on a passed ball. N.C. State added four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull out to a 10-2, highlighted by a two-run RBI-double by Gaetti, his fourth hit of the game.
UVa starting pitcher Jeff Kamrath went four innings and allowed one run on three hits to go along with three strikeouts. Virginia’s Starr (1-3) took the loss after pitching three innings and allowed six runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. The Cavaliers’ Paul Gillispie made his first career pitching appearance and threw one inning and allowed three runs on three hits with one strikeout. NCSU starting pitcher Phillip Davidson (5-4) pitched a complete game and surrendered only two runs while scattering six hits to go along with a game-high 11 strikeouts.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 25-28 overall, 8-14 in the ACC. The win improves N.C. State’s record to 30-24 overall, 5-17 in the conference.
The Cavaliers and Wolfpack will return to action on Saturday, May 18th when UVa and NCSU face off in an ACC doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Doak Field on the campus of N.C. State.
— UVa —