No. 14 Virginia Uses Clutch Hitting to Beat No. 23 NC State 7-0, Clinch Series

It was another pitchers' duel for the first seven innings, but eventually the Cavalier bats came alive with some clutch hitting to provide run support for what was another stellar performance from the UVA pitching staff. No. 14 Virginia scored six runs in the final two innings and earned a 7-0 shutout win at No. 23 NC State to clinch the series victory on Friday afternoon in Raleigh. 

NC State entered this weekend series averaging 10 runs per game, ranking as one of the top 15 scoring offenses in all of college baseball. Through the first two games of this series, the UVA pitching staff has completely shut down the Wolfpack batters, allowing just one run in two games. 

It started with Brian Edgington, who got the start for Virginia and went 6.1 innings, giving up just four hits and zero runs and successfully kept NC State off the scoreboard. The Wolfpack had a runner on third in the first and fourth innings, but Edgington did well to work himself out of the jams to keep things scoreless. NC State starter Matt Willadsen was also strong on the mound, giving up just one earned run on three hits in seven innings of work. 

That lone Virginia run came in the top of the fifth inning, as Anthony Stephan hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a bunt from Henry Godbout, and scored on a groundout by Harrison Didawick. Beyond that, the UVA batters couldn't get going until NC State went to its bullpen. 

In the top of the eighth, the Wolfpack brought in Justin Lawson, who walked Griff O'Ferrall to start the inning. Ethan O'Donnell moved O'Ferrall to second with a bunt and then Jake Gelof brought him home with a double. Kyle Teel then came to the plate and smoked a ball deep into the trees beyond the right field wall for a two-run homer, doubling Virginia's lead to 4-0. 

NC State brought in Rio Britton, but things didn't get much better as Britton gave up a single and then a double to Henry Godbout, which scored Ethan Anderson from second. Virginia added two more runs in the top of the ninth on back-to-back RBI doubles from Ethan O'Donnell and Jake Gelof, giving UVA a 7-0 lead. 

That ended up being plenty of run support for the Virginia bullpen, as the combination of Evan Blanco, Kevin Jaxel, Angelo Tonas, and Jay Woolfolk combined to give up just two hits and one walk and completed the shutout. NC State's best chance to get on the board came in the bottom of the eighth as Jacob Cozart tried to score from second on a single, but was thrown out at the plate by UVA center fielder Ethan O'Donnell. 

The win improves Virginia to 17-1 on the season and 4-1 in ACC play and secured an ACC road series win against a ranked opponent for the second weekend in a row. The Cavaliers will look to complete the sweep in game 3 on Saturday at 2pm. 

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