March 11, 2003
Wilson, NC-Joey Riley's two home runs led North Carolina State over The Citadel, 4-3, in collegiate baseball action at Fleming Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
North Carolina State (10-5) jumped out to an early lead, 1-0, in the bottom of the first inning on Justin Riley's solo homerun to right field. Joe Gaetti just missed a homerun in the bottom of the first when he tripled off the top of the right field fence. Citadel starting pitcher Griff Beckham got David Hicks to fly out to right fielder Josh Stackley, ending the inning and stranding Gaetti at third.
The Citadel (7-7) answered with a run in the top of the seventh to tie the score, 1-1, on two hits. Third baseman Chris Ard drove in catcher Jason Randall, who reached on an infield single, on a bases loaded single to right center. First baseman Chris Altman, who reached on a fielder's choice, was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second.
The Wolfpack took the lead, 4-1, in the bottom half of the seventh on Riley's second homerun of the day. His homer to left centerfield drove-in catcher Colt Morton, who walked to start the inning, while Gaetti drew a bases loaded walk to plate Marc Maynor for the third run of the inning.
Randall's sacrifice fly in eighth that scored Josh Stackely, who led off the inning with a single to center, started a two-run rally for the Bulldogs. Jon Aughey, who was hit by a pitch, later scored on Chip Cannon's RBI single to center to cut the NC State lead, 4-3. Wolfpack closer Joey Devine got centerfielder Trent Weathers to fly out to right to squelch the Bulldog rally, stranding runners on second and third.
The Bulldogs challenged in the ninth after Ard got a leadoff single and moved to second on Brook Dantzler's sac bunt. Devine stranded Ard at second to earn his fourth save of the season.
With an infield single in the fifth inning Citadel third baseman Chris Ard has now hit safely in ten straight games. He started his hit streak with a two for four effort on Sunday, February 23, against the same NC State team.
Mark Egelton (0-1) came in on relief of Griff Beckham to earn the loss on 1.1 innings pitched. He gave up two runs on two hits, including Riley's two-run homer in the seventh. Beckham received his first career start as a Bulldog pitching five innings giving up only three hits and an unearned run. He struck out three Wolfpack batters.
Vern Sterry (4-0) earned the win for NC State on 7.1 innings pitched. Sterry struck ten Citadel batters, while scattering only four hits.
The Bulldogs will return to Riley Park this upcoming weekend, Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16, for three games against Southern Conference foe Wofford. Saturday the Bulldogs and Terriers will meet at 1:00 pm for a double-header and again at 1:00 pm on Sunday for the series finale.
