Riley Homer Gives Wolfpack Dramatic 4-3 Win Over VCU

Saturday, May 31

Wilson, NC

3:00 PM

NC State

44-16

Virginia Commonwealth (NCAA Regional)

46-12

Virginia Commonwealt

NC State

Riley's walk off homer in the 10th set off a wild celebration.

Riley Homer Gives Wolfpack Dramatic 4-3 Win Over VCU

5/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 31, 2003

Final Stats

By Tony Haynes

Wilson, N.C.-In a game that featured plenty of great pitching, long distance hitting, and nail-biting drama, NC State slipped into the driver's seat in its NCAA Tournament regional at Fleming Stadium by rallying past Virginia Commonwealth, 4-3. It didn't end until first baseman Justin Riley led off the bottom of the 10th inning with his 17th homer of the year, a blast that set off a wild celebration at home plate. In improving its record to 44-16, the Pack moved into Sunday's 1:00 p.m. contest against Western Carolina, which could end the regional if NC State prevails. The game can be heard in the Triangle area on WKNC 88.1 fm and via the Internet on Gopack.com. Fans inside Fleming Stadium can pick up the broadcast on 87.7 fm.

The win went to Wolfpack closer Joey Devine, who pitched two innings of scoreless relief after starter Vern Sterry had held VCU to three runs and four hits over eight innings. Brian Marshall, the twin brother of Rams starter Sean Marshall, took the loss and fell to 5-5.

"I'm the one who got the bat on the ball, but I'm not the one who won that game," said Riley, whose blast sailed over the wall in left center. "Vern Sterry pitched a great game. Joey Devine pitched a great game. The biggest key to this team, and this is what has gotten us this far, is not the home runs but the way this team pays attention the entire game. An individual came up to me before I went up to bat and gave me a slight tendency [of Marshall]. That tendency fell, and he was dead right. It wasn't even someone who was involved in the game, and that's been the key to this entire season."

One player that was definitely involved in the game was NC State catcher Colt Morton, who slugged a pair of solo homers to give the Wolfpack a chance to stay unbeaten in the regional. With State trailing 3-1 in the sixth, Morton connected for the 17th time to make it a one run contest. Then with one down and the bases empty in the eighth, he tied it with a mammoth tape measure job to left.

Morton's counterpart on the other side was Jeff Parrish. The All-CAA catcher for VCU staked his team to that 3-1 advantage with a two-run bomb in the second inning and a solo blast in the fourth.

The Rams, who have the lowest ERA in the nation, got a strong effort from Sean Marshall, who allowed just one run and four hits over six innings.

The classic NCAA game did not, however, come without some controversy. After facing Le Moyne lefthander Brian Mattoon on Friday night, NC State's righthanded hitters complained that the light-colored advertising signs painted on a background fence just to the right of center field provided a less than comfortable hitting background against the lefty Mattoon. So, late Friday night, the NCAA gave the grounds crew permission to cover that portion of the wall with a black tarp.

It was not a decision that went over well with Virginia Commonwealth coach Paul Keyes.

"NC State got the matchup they wanted," Keyes said after the game. "They got the wind screen up and changed the complexion of the game. It was a game that was tainted because we had gamesmanship going on in this regional. I was here with the games committee until 12:30 last night trying to figure out why we were adding a black screen and now I know why. We have a lefthanded closer and a lefthanded starter. We're disappointed in that, but we're proud of the way our team played."

Said NC State coach Elliott Avent: "I think what you try to do is make it an even playing field for all teams involved, and that's one of the things that was discussed before the tournament by the games committee. It was the committee's decision. It was supposed to be changed before the tournament started. They tried to get it right, which is what you're supposed to do, and I applaud the games committee for trying to get that done."

While Keyes complained about the decision to improve the background in center, he failed to mention that his club managed only five hits while striking out 10 times against Sterry and Devine.

In order to advance to the Super Regional next week, NC State will now have two chances to win one game on Sunday. If it takes the first game at 1:00, the regional will be over. Should the Pack lose, a second game will be played.

Lefty Nate Cretarolo (5-3, 5.00 ERA) is slated to start game one for the Wolfpack.