The previously top-ranked Virginia baseball team lost its first series of the season this past weekend against N.C. State in Raleigh and now sits in third place in the ACC Coastal Division.
Despite another strong outing on the mound from sophomore preseason All-American Danny Hultzen, who struck out six batters during six innings of two-hit, one-run baseball, Virginia (23-6, 8-4 ACC) dropped Friday's opener in 11 innings, 6-5. Junior reliever Tyler Wilson blew the Cavaliers' 3-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth when senior Drew Poulk hammered a two-run home run to tie the game. Virginia immediately retook a two-run lead in the top of the ninth, however, with the help of its strong six-through-nine batters. Senior shortstop Tyler Cannon led off with a double and eventually scored on an error. Freshman designated hitter Stephen Bruno sent another clutch single to left field to score sophomore first baseman John Hicks, who had previously reached base on a bunt.
The Wolfpack eventually broke the 5-5 tie in the bottom of the 11th with a game-winning single off the bat of freshman shortstop Matt Bergquist after the game went into extra innings.
Virginia knotted the series at one game apiece with an 8-4 win Saturday behind three-hit performances from junior right fielder Dan Grovatt and sophomore third baseman Steven Proscia, who finished the series hitting 7-for-13 at the plate to break out of his midseason slump. Freshman right-handed pitcher Branden Kline pitched a solid 2.1 innings of relief, allowing three hits and zero runs to secure the victory.
Virginia took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning of Sunday's rubber match before the bullpen again blew the game. Wilson allowed a single and walked two batters before surrendering a go-ahead grand-slam home run to sophomore third baseman Andrew Ciencin. The Cavaliers scored two runs in the top of the ninth to close N.C. State's lead to one, but junior left fielder John Barr struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the game, stranding Hicks at second as Virginia lost 7-6.
Virginia, still ranked as high as No. 3, resumes play tonight for a midweek contest against James Madison at Davenport Field. The two teams previously met March 17 when Virginia won 6-3 in Harrisonburg.
-compiled by Andrew Seidman
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