Virginia Baseball: Hoos and Wolfpack Split Friday and Saturday Game

Game One

After pitching so magnificently through this year, the NC State Wolfpack got to Virginia ace Connor Jones early and often handing him his first loss of the year. Jones gave up 7 runs (6 earned) in just 5.1 innings work putting the Hoos in a hole they just couldn't climb out of. Despite a furious eighth inning comeback, Virginia fell just short losing on Friday night 8-7

While the pitching wasn't as stout as normal, the bats were hot...sort of. The Hoos picked up 15 hits on the night including four from Matt Thaiss and three from Adam Haseley, but couldn't capitalize in the run production department leaving 13 men on base for the night. In the end, the inability to get the hit when it counted was the difference.

Game Two

Early on during Saturday's game it looked like the Cavalier offense might not be able to get going against the impressive NC State staff. Luckily, new weekend starter Adam Haseley kept the Wolfpack lineup at bay better than UVa's ace, Connor Jones was able to on Friday night.

Haseley's first weekend start was just what Coach O'Connor could have asked for from his second year pitcher. Haseley was able to hold NC State off the board his entire six innings and limited the Wolfpack to just six hits and two walks while striking out five.

Haseley handed the ball off in the seventh to third year righty, Tyler Shambora who gave the Hoos just what they needed out of the pen by holding State scoreless through the seventh and eighth.

For much of the game NC State starter Brian Brown cruised against the UVa lineup. Through the first four innings, the Cavaliers only had three base runners, but in the bottom of the 5^th first year Ryan Karstetter reached on a throwing error and Derek Dozier singled to leadoff the inning. After a Justin Novak sac bunt, first year Andy Weber did the job with a sac fly giving UVa the 1-0 lead.

Luckily, Brown could not throw a complete game and exited with two outs in the eighth after holding UVa to a run on three hits. After he came out, the Hoos exploded for four runs on four hits and a walk to extend the lead to 5-0 heading into the 9^th.

Shambora ran into some trouble in the 9^th giving up a leadoff double and issuing a walk to the next batter making way for UVa closer Alec Bettinger. Bettinger promptly gave up a double and a single to cut the UVa lead to 5-2. After getting a strikeout, Bettinger gave up another double and another runner reached on catcher's interference, but was able to escape for his 8th save via an F9 to end it.

The win on Saturday helps UVa's ACC record to 6-5 and keep pace with Georgia Tech, UNC, and Miami. The Canes currently lead the Coastal at 8-2.

The two teams will meet on Sunday at 1 p.m.