No. 7 Seed NC State Holds On to Defeat No. 3 Seed Virginia, 4-3
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May 25, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – – Brandon Marsh had a career day going 5-for-5 with three RBIs, but No. 7 seed NC State held on to defeat No. 3 seed Virginia, 4-3, in game 7 of the 2006 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament Thursday evening at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The game was halted for two hours and 25 minutes due to inclement weather.
“I was happy with the way our guys stepped up and battled on the mound and at the plate,” UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor said. “NC State is such a good offensive team and our pitchers held them to only four runs. It was a tough loss, but this team has done such a good job of bouncing back after tough losses, which we’ll do tomorrow.”
Jacob Thompson (10-3) took the loss for Virginia. He allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits in seven innings before Pat McAnaney pitched the final inning. Greg Miclat went 2-for-4 for the Cavs, who out-hit the Wolfpack, 11-7. Brian Aragon went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Eryk McConnell (7-6) won his seventh game as he held UVa to two runs on nine hits. Sam Walls earned his seventh save.
The Cavaliers came within 4-3 in the top of the ninth. Mike Mitchell walked to lead off the inning and stole second. After he moved to third on a ground out, Marsh delivered his fifth hit up the middle to score Mitchell getting the Cavaliers within one run.
After the rain and lightning delay, the Cavaliers resumed played in the top of the eighth with two outs and David Adams on first. Tom Hagan drew a walk and Patrick Wingfield walked to load the bases. Tim Henry laced a ball up the middle that was fielded and Wingfield was called out at second on a close play.
The Wolfpack capitalized on a Virginia error to score three runs in the bottom of the fifth. After Jonathan Diaz singled and Matt Camp walked, Ramon Corona reached on an error while trying to bunt which allowed Diaz to score tying the game, 2-2. Jon Still singled down the left field line allowing two more runs to score to make it, 4-2.
Marsh’s second home run of the season gave Virginia a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth.
Marsh’s RBI single in the top of the third scored Mike Mitchell, who led off the inning with a walk to give Virginia a 1-0 lead. NC State tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Matt Mangini singled down the right field line scoring Brian Aragon to make it, 1-1.
Virginia will play Florida State at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon in an elimination game. Senior lefty Mike Ballard will start for the Cavaliers.