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May 26, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, FL.(AP) – Matt Avery was credited with a complete-gameperformance in pitching Virginia to a 12-2 win over North Carolina StateThursday in a game shortened to seven innings due to the 10-run rule inthe Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament at the BaseballGrounds of Jacksonville.
The win sends Virginia (40-17) into Saturday’s semifinals against thewinner of Friday’s Clemson-North Carolina State game. The Wolfpack(40-16) take on the Tigers in a 4 p.m. game Friday with the losereliminated from the tournament.
The 10-run rule or “mercy” rule was implemented into the ACCTournament for the first time this year. If a team is ahead by 10 ormore runs after the opposing team has had at least seven at-bats, thegame is halted.
Avery (6-5) allowed just six hits in recording his first complete gameof the season in 14 starts. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.He allowed a pair of hits in both the second and fourth innings when theWolfpack pushed across single runs.
Avery received plenty of early support as the Cavaliers scored all 12runs in the first three innings with three, four and five-run outburstsin successive innings. Ryan Zimmerman, Sean Doolittle and Brandon Guyerall had a pair of hits and drove in two runs each to pace Virginia’sattack. Zimmerman also scored three times with Guyer, Matt Street andTim Henry all adding a pair of runs.
All nine starting batters (including designated hitter Guyer) with theexception of shortstop Mike Campagna had at least one hit and all buttwo starters scored at least once.
North Carolina State starting pitcher Gib Hobson (6-3) lasted just 11/3 innings in his shortest outing of the season. He gave up seven runsand six hits while walking three. He was relieved by Travis High whofared little better, allowing the remaining five runs in 1 2/3 innings.