Box Score

NC State 8, VT 2

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - North Carolina State scored single runs in eight straight innings and defeated Virginia Tech, 8-2, in ACC baseball action Friday evening at English Field.

The Wolfpack, now 26-11 overall and 11-7 in ACC play, opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. Center fielder Marcus Jones tripled off the wall in left center with one out and later scored on a single up the middle by shortstop Tommy Foschi off Hokie starter, right-hander Rhett Ballard (r-Jr., High Point, N.C.).

NC State increased the lead in the top of the third inning, when second baseman Dallas Poulk led off the inning with a walk and scored on a double down the left field line by left fielder Ryan Pond. First baseman Pat Ferguson homered to left center to lead off the top of the fourth inning to give NC State a 3-0 lead.

The Hokies, now 16-22 overall and 3-16 in league action, got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, when, with one out, left fielder Jose Cueto (Sr., Miami, Fla.) singled to left field. He advanced to second base on a single up the middle by designated hitter Matt Blow (r-Fr., Richmond, Va.), moved to third on an infield ground out and scored on a two-out double steal, making the score 3-1.

The 'Pack added to the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Pond singled to left field and advanced to third on a single up the middle by right fielder Matt Payne. Pond scored on a fielder's choice by designated hitter Jeremy Synan. Ferguson led off the top of the sixth inning with a double to left center and scored on a double to left field by catcher Nick Stanley.

Tech cut into the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Center fielder Sean Ryan (Jr., Ashburn, Va.) led off with a bunt single and moved to third on a single to right field by catcher Anthony Sosnoskie (So., Front Royal, Va.). Ryan scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by right fielder Klint Reed (Jr., Chesterfield, Va.).

NC State answered in the top of the eighth. Stanley led off with a double to left field and Foschi walked. After a pitching change by the Hokies, Stanley and Foschi advanced on a wild pitch and Poulk was intentionally walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, reliever Brandon Fisher (r-Fr., New Castle, Va.) walked Payne on four pitches to force home Stanley. State scored its final run in the top of the ninth inning when Jones led off with a single, stole second and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Tony Balisteri (Fr., Lexington, Va.).

Ballard took the loss for the Hokies and fell to 2-4 on the season. He pitched six-plus innings, allowing six runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking one. Clayton Shunick, now 4-4 on the season, earned the victory by pitching five innings and allowing one run on five hits. Joey Cutler earned his first save of the season with four innings of four-hit ball.

Cueto and Blow each had two hits to lead the Hokies. Five NC State batters had two hits each. The Wolfpack has now won five straight and 12 out of their last 14 games. The two teams will meet in the second game of the three-game weekend conference series on Saturday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.