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April 20, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team recorded an 8-3 victory over the #14 ranked N.C. State Wolfpack in the final contest of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. The Cavaliers fell behind 2-0 in the first inning but scored eight of the last nine runs in the game to come away with a five-run victory.
N.C. State wasted no time putting runs on the scoreboard and took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Justin Riley blasted a two-run home run off of a tree over the left-field wall to give the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead. Riley’s home run was his 12th of the season. However, it was pretty much all Virginia the rest of the way.
The Cavaliers answered back in the bottom of the third inning and took a 3-2 lead thanks to four hits in the Virginia side. Kyle Werman started things off with a single to get on base before scoring a run three batters later on a double to right-center by Mark Reynolds, coupled with an error by NCSU right fielder Matt Long. Werman’s run made it a 2-1 game. After a walk by Joe Koshansky, Ryan Zimmerman connected on a RBI-single to drive in Reynolds to tie the score at 2-2 before Gillispie drove in Koshansky to score a run himself in UVa’s next at bat with a RBI-double to left-center field. Gillipsie’s hit lifted Virginia to a 3-2 lead after three innings of play.
UVa extended its lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning starting when Eric Christensen singled before scoring a run two batters later on a RBI sacrifice fly to center field by Werman. Christensen’s run eventually became the game-winning score. Chris Sweet then drove in Scott Headd to score a run after connecting on a RBI-single to center field to give the Cavaliers a 5-2 advantage.
N.C. State added a run in the top of the fifth inning and cut the lead to 5-3 when Marc Maynor drove in Matt Camp with a RBI-double to right field to bring the Wolfpack within two runs of the Cavaliers. But Virginia answered right back and added a pair of runs to pull out to a 7-3 lead. With two outs on the board, UVa’s Werman drove in Christensen with a RBI-single up the middle before Werman scored a run himself on another RBI-single up the middle, this time by Matt Street one batter later.
The Cavaliers increased their lead to 8-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning an added another insurance run following a solo home run to left-center field by Koshansky, his fourth home run of the year.
UVa’s starting pitcher Joe Koshansky (6-0) remained undefeated on the mound this year and picked up his sixth victory after going 6.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits to go along with a game-high seven strikeouts. Reliever Canon Hickman recorded his fourth save of the year after going 3.0 scoreless innings while scattering a pair of hits with one strikeout. NCSU starting pitcher Jason Duncan (1-1) took the loss and lasted only 3.0 innings while allowing three runs on four hits to go along with one strikeout.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improved to 23-15 overall, 7-7 in the ACC. The loss dropped N.C. State’s record to 33-9 overall, 11-4 in the conference. The Wolfpack won the series two games to one after posting a pair of wins (7-1 and 3-2) on Saturday in a doubleheader.
The Cavaliers will return to home action on Monday, April 21st when Virginia hosts the Virginia Tech Hokies in a non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
— UVa —