Home #23 NC State avoids three-game sweep, rallies to knock off #14 Virginia, 5-4
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#23 NC State avoids three-game sweep, rallies to knock off #14 Virginia, 5-4

Chris Graham
baseball
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Virginia couldn’t close out a three-game sweep at #23 NC State, with the Pack rallying to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the #14 ‘Hoos, 5-4.

UVA reliever Jake Berry (0-1, 1.50 ERA) had two outs and a 2-2 count on Kalae Harrison, who singled to score Chase Nixon from second to cut the Virginia lead to 4-3.

LuJames Hoover followed with a single, and Jacob Gozart worked a walk to load the bases.

Cannon Peebles roped a single up the middle on the first pitch of his at bat to score Harrison and pinch-runner Michael Gupton with the winning run.

Virginia (17-2, 4-2 ACC) had taken the lead in the top of the ninth with a two-run homer by Jake Gelof and a solo shot from Kyle Teel.

The home run by Gelof was his 31st of his career, moving him into sole possession of fifth on UVA’s all-time home run list.

Gelof finished the day 3-for-4 with triple a home run and three RBI.

UVA starting pitcher Jack O’Connor struck out a season-high eight batters and did not issue a walk in 5.2 innings of work.

All three weekend starters for UVA pitched five or more innings.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019, and Team of Destiny: Inside Virginia Basketball’s Run to the 2019 National Championship, and The Worst Wrestling Pay-Per-View Ever, published in 2018. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].