RALEIGH, N.C. (March 31) — Junior left-hander Cory Vance fired a complete game two-hitter on Friday night (3/31), as No. 22 Georgia Tech used an eight-run fourth inning to defeat NC State 13-1 at Doak Field.
Vance’s complete game was the fourth of his career, and it marked the first two-hitter by a Tech hurler since Jase Wrigley’s two-hit shutout of Southwestern Louisiana on May 23, 1997. The southpaw won for the sixth time in seven starts in 2000, and for the 11th time in 14 outings dating back to last season.
The Jackets (21-8, 5-2 ACC) took a 1-0 lead in the first, as two-out singles by Mark Teixeira, Bryan Prince and Derik Goffena resulted in a run. Tyler Parker’s seventh home run of the season, to lead off the second, increased the Tech lead to 2-0.
NC State (17-12, 5-5 ACC) closed within 2-1 in the bottom of the second, as catcher Dan Mooney singled and worked his way around the bases on three wild pitches by Vance, scoring the Wolfpack’s lone run of the game.
Tech scored twice in the third to build its lead to 4-1, before its eight-run fourth put the game away. After Parker struck out to start the fourth, a single by Wes Rynders started the rally, before three consecutive doubles chased Wolfpack starter Mike Prochaska (2-2) from the game. Ryan Steadham came on in relief for NC State, and failed to record an out, allowing four runs, including a three-run double by Jason Basil. Derek McKee came on for NC State and after allowing an RBI single to Parker, forced Rynders to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Vance (6-1) took over at that point, allowing just two base runners thereafter, as he faced just three batters over the minimum in the game, while striking out 11 Wolfpack batters.
At the plate, five Jackets posted two-hit games, including second baseman Richard Lewis, who increased his hitting streak to 19 games.
Georgia Tech and NC State will continue their three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Doak Field in Raleigh.
