No. 11 Baseball Wins 6-2 Over NC State
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The No. 11 Virginia baseball team opened its three-game ACC series with NC State with a 6-2 victory Friday night at Davenport Field. Despite tying a season low with five hits, the Cavaliers took advantage of nine Wolfpack errors, which led to all six UVa runs.
Virginia starter Danny Hultzen (Fr., Bethesda, Md.) earned the win after pitching 5.1 innings and giving up two runs (one earned), five hits and two walks while striking out nine. The freshman improved to 6-0 this season. Tyler Wilson (So., Midlothian, Va.) shut the door on a sixth-inning NC State rally and pitched the final 3.2 innings to earn his first career save.
Jimmy Gillheeney (5-3) started for NC State and pitched well but was victimized by the defense behind him. In six innings, he allowed six runs, but none were earned. He allowed four hits and a walk and struck out six, but the Wolfpack made all nine of their errors during his six innings.
Virginia (33-8-1, 12-7-1 ACC) scored its first three runs in a crazy fourth inning that featured five NC State errors. With one out, Dan Grovatt (So., Tabernacle, N.J.) reached on a miscue by shortstop Dallas Poulk. Steven Proscia (Fr., Suffern, N.Y.) then got on because of a Gillheeney throwing error. The two then combined for a double steal as John Hicks (Fr., Sandy Hook, Va.) struck out.
Jared King (Fr., Radford, Va.) hit an infield single to score Grovatt, and second baseman Andrew Ciencin, after smothering the ball to keep it from going into center field, had Proscia picked off third base but made an errant throw and third baseman Drew Martin compounded matters by firing wildly to the plate to allow the run to score and King to move to second. Franco Valdes (Jr., Miami, Fla.) followed with a grounder that was booted by Poulk, allowing King to score the third run of the bizarre inning.
NC State (19-23, 7-15) posted a run of its own in the fifth inning off a Virginia error. The Wolfpack loaded the bases with two outs and Drew Martin hit a grounder to third, which was misplayed by Proscia to allow Ciencin to score.
Virginia scored a run in the bottom of the fifth. Grovatt singled with two out, moved to second on a wild pitch and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Martin at shortstop. Grovatt scored when Gillheeney tossed his second wild pitch of the inning.
NC State rebounded for a run in the sixth inning. Devon Cartwright led off with a single and advanced one out later on a Harold Riggins single. Cartwright scored when Ciencin singled up the middle.
Virginia countered with a pair of runs in its half of the sixth, taking advantage of two more errors. Valdes singled to lead off and Barr reached on an error by Martin at third base after attempting to sacrifice. Jarrett Parker (So., Stafford, Va.) successfully sacrificed to move the runners up, and Tyler Cannon (Jr., Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) followed with a fielder’s choice grounder to score Valdes. Phil Gosselin (So., West Chester, Pa.) then hit a high chopper to score Barr despite the infield being pulled in, giving UVa a 6-2 advantage.
The teams play the second game of the series at 1 p.m. Saturday. It will be Fan Appreciation Day, as well as an Orange Out.’ Fans are encouraged to wear orange to the game.