North Carolina State University Athletics
Seminoles Strike Early, Defeat No. 18 Baseball, 8-1
5/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The rubber game of this three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series was pretty much over after the second inning. NC State starter Alex Sogard could not command the strike zone, and the Wolfpack hitters were unable to solve Florida State starter Ryan Strauss. Before the second inning was over, the Seminoles had turned six walks, four hits and a wild pitch into seven runs, and that was that. The remainder of the game generally lacked suspense as Florida State rolled to an 8-1 victory over the Wolfpack.
FSU improved to 46-9 overall and 24-6 with the victory. NC State, which lost by more than four runs for just the second time this season, fell to 37-18 overall and 18-11 in the ACC.
Strauss (8-0), a former starter turned reliever, was making an emergency start in place of scheduled starter Geoff Parker, out with an arm ailment. Strauss looked quite comfortable in the starting role, going six innings and allowing just one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out eight. The only run he allowed was on a solo homer by Ryan Pond leading off the fifth inning.
Sogard (4-2) got the game started by retiring the first two FSU batters of the game, but set down just three of the next eight men he faced and took the loss after allowing six runs on three hits and five walks in 1 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out just one. Sogard’s third batter of the first inning, Buster Posey, golfed a solo homer to right field, and the Seminoles weren’t finished. Jack Rye and Dennis Guinn walked to set the table for Tony Delmonico, who doubled to left field, driving in both runners.
The second inning was no better. Sogard got Stephen Cardullo on a grounder back to the mound leading off the inning, but then walked the next three batters to load the bases. Rye struck out and that was the end of the line for Sogard. Jake Buchanan came in to pitch for NC State. Buchanan pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits, but walked his first batter, Guinn, then gave up a triple to Delmonico to make it 7-0.
Pond’s long homer to left-center cut the FSU lead to 7-1, but the Wolfpack squandered its one big scoring opportunity of the night in the same inning. Following Pond’s blast, Strauss put the next three batters on base on a single by Nate Cockman and walks to Tommy Foschi and Dallas Poulk. The Pack was unable to take advantage, however. Nick Stanley went down on a first-pitch pop-up to the shortstop, Matt Payne struck out, and Jeremy Synan grounded back to the mound.
Cardullo homered with one out in the sixth to make it 8-1.
Saturday’s game ended the 2008 regular season. NC State will begin play in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Wednesday. The opponent and game time will be announced on Sunday afternoon. All of the Wolfpack’s ACC Tournament games will be broadcast live on WKNC-FM (88.1) and can be heard on the internet at gopack.com through Pack Pass.
FSU improved to 46-9 overall and 24-6 with the victory. NC State, which lost by more than four runs for just the second time this season, fell to 37-18 overall and 18-11 in the ACC.
Strauss (8-0), a former starter turned reliever, was making an emergency start in place of scheduled starter Geoff Parker, out with an arm ailment. Strauss looked quite comfortable in the starting role, going six innings and allowing just one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out eight. The only run he allowed was on a solo homer by Ryan Pond leading off the fifth inning.
Sogard (4-2) got the game started by retiring the first two FSU batters of the game, but set down just three of the next eight men he faced and took the loss after allowing six runs on three hits and five walks in 1 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out just one. Sogard’s third batter of the first inning, Buster Posey, golfed a solo homer to right field, and the Seminoles weren’t finished. Jack Rye and Dennis Guinn walked to set the table for Tony Delmonico, who doubled to left field, driving in both runners.
The second inning was no better. Sogard got Stephen Cardullo on a grounder back to the mound leading off the inning, but then walked the next three batters to load the bases. Rye struck out and that was the end of the line for Sogard. Jake Buchanan came in to pitch for NC State. Buchanan pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits, but walked his first batter, Guinn, then gave up a triple to Delmonico to make it 7-0.
Pond’s long homer to left-center cut the FSU lead to 7-1, but the Wolfpack squandered its one big scoring opportunity of the night in the same inning. Following Pond’s blast, Strauss put the next three batters on base on a single by Nate Cockman and walks to Tommy Foschi and Dallas Poulk. The Pack was unable to take advantage, however. Nick Stanley went down on a first-pitch pop-up to the shortstop, Matt Payne struck out, and Jeremy Synan grounded back to the mound.
Cardullo homered with one out in the sixth to make it 8-1.
Saturday’s game ended the 2008 regular season. NC State will begin play in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Wednesday. The opponent and game time will be announced on Sunday afternoon. All of the Wolfpack’s ACC Tournament games will be broadcast live on WKNC-FM (88.1) and can be heard on the internet at gopack.com through Pack Pass.
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