North Carolina State University Athletics
Caldwell, Miller Pitch Pack Past West Virginia, 2-1
2/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. - For the second time in as many Fridays, NC State struggled for offense against a tough lefthanded pitcher, but found a way to win thanks to the stellar pitching of Daniel Caldwell and Josh Miller.
West Virginia lefty Shane Rhodes allowed the Wolfpack just two runs, one of them unearned, on three hits in six innings, but Caldwell and Miller combined on a six-hitter and NC State downed the Mountaineers, 2-1, at Charleston's Riley Park in the first game of The Citadel Invitational Shootout. The Wolfpack evened its record at 2-2 with the win. The game was the season opener for West Virginia.
Caldwell, who allowed one unearned run on six hits in seven strong innings, improved to 2-1 on the season and saw his ERA fall to 0.69. Miller worked the final two innings and allowed two baserunners on a walk and a hit batter, but did not allow a run to record his second save in as many attempts.
NC State scored both of its runs in the bottom of the second. Sean Walsh led off with a walk and went to second on a balk by Rhodes. Mike Prochaska reached on an error to put runners on the corners with none out, and Matt Butler drove in Walsh with a single. Prochaska went to third on a fly ball to right field by Jamey Shearin, and Butler and Prochaska pulled off a double steal, with Prochaska scoring on the play, to give the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead.
West Virginia mounted a big threat in the top of the third, loading the bases with none, out, but Caldwell deftly pitched out of trouble, getting Adrian Dorsey to hit a soft line drive that shortstop Jeremy Dutton turned into a double play and Dwayne Smith to ground into a force play.
West Virginia picked up its only run off Caldwell in the top of the fifth. Jarod Rine led off with a single to left and went to second on an error. Mike Frownfelter sacrificed Rine to third, and Eric Grimm singled to left field to score the run and cut the lead to 2-1.
That was the extent of the offense for either team. Following Grimm's RBI hit, Caldwell retired the next eight men he faced before giving way to Miller to start the eighth inning. And the Wolfpack managed to advance just one baserunner as far as second base after scoring twice in the second inning.
The Wolfpack will continue action in The Citadel Invitational Shootout on Saturday vs. the homestanding Citadel Bulldogs. Dan D'Amato (0-0, 3.38)will start for NC State and will be opposed by either lefthander Eric Talbert or righthander T.A. Fulmer.
