No. 14 Virginia Claims Series Opener at No. 23 NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. – No. 14 Virginia (16-1, 3-1 ACC) held on for a 2-1 ACC road victory over No. 23 NC State (14-4, 1-3 ACC) on Thursday (March 16) at Doak Field. Due to inclement weather in the forecast, first pitch of game two on Friday (March 17) will now be at 1 p.m.

Led by starting pitcher Nick Parker and reliever Jake Berry, four Virginia pitcher combined to strikeout 14 batters in the contest. Parker improved to 3-0 after he pitched the first five innings, allowed one run and struck out seven batters. Berry struck out four batters over 2.2 innings of work, including two in the ninth inning, to earn his third save of the season.

The Cavaliers were outhit in the contest for the first time this season, 8-4. The four hits were a season-low and the fewest in a win since March 27, 2021. Jake Gelof and Kyle Teel each drove in a run for the Cavaliers in the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Teel made the first of a number of outstanding defensive plays to keep NC State off the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and second, a wild pitch deflected off his shin pad towards the first base dugout. NC State Payton Green advanced to third and attempted to take home but Teel made an incredible sliding play and throw to Parker on the mound to cut down the potential run.

• The Cavaliers got on the scoreboard in their next turn at the plate. Gelof plated the first run of the night, on a ground out to first that allowed Harrison Didawick to score. Kyle Teel followed up with a rope into the shift in right field that could not be handled, allowing Justin Rubin to come across. Both runs were unearned thanks to a Wolfpack fielding error earlier in the frame.
• Parker battled through five innings, working around runners all five innings. He stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings. His only blemish came on a solo home run in the fourth by Jacob Cozart.
• Angelo Tonas got the first two outs of the sixth inning and handed the ball to Jacob Hodorovich struck out the final batter of the frame.
• Hodorovich struck out the only two batters he faced and yielded to Berry with one out in the seventh.
• Berry sat down the first seven batters he faced, contributing to 1-2-3 innings in the seventh and eighth innings. The only 1-2-3 innings of the game.
• In the ninth, Carter Trice doubled with two outs to put the tying run in scoring position. Berry struck out Parker Nolan on four pitches to seal the Cavalier victory.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The last time Virginia won with four or less hits was against Miami on March 27, 2021. UVA needed just one hit in a 4-0 shutout of the Hurricanes.
• All four UVA hits were singles, two from Griff O’Ferrall, one each from Justin Rubin and Kyle Teel.
• Virginia went 2-3 in one-run wins last season. It’s two wins came against Bellarmine (1-0) on opening day and a 7-6, 10-inning win over Boston College on March 18.

UP NEXT

NC State game officials have moved first pitch time for game two of the series on Friday (March 17) to 1 p.m. due inclement weather in the forecast. No other changes to the series have been made. UVA will have righthander Brian Edgington on the mound and he will be opposed by righty Matt Willadsen (2-1).