UIC Eliminated by N.C. State at NCAA Baseball Regional
June 5, 2005
North Carolina State touched the University of Illinois at Chicago relievers for five unanswered runs, capped off by a three-run ninth, as the #2 seeded Wolfpack rallied from a three-run deficit to earn the 9-7 victory over the Flames in the consolation round of the NCAA Lincoln Regional Baseball Championship at Hawks Field at Haymaker Park on Saturday afternoon.
With one out in the ninth and the Flames holding a 7-6 lead over NC State, the Wolfpack loaded the bases for sophomore Jonathan Diaz (3-for-4, RBI, run). Diaz laid down a perfect suicide squeeze, scoring pinch runner Chris Engle from third, tying the game up at 7-apiece.
NC State junior center fielder Matt Camp (2-for-4, 3 RBI) stepped to the plate and took the first-pitch offering from UIC reliever Ryan Hopkins down the left field line for a two-run single to put the Wolfpack ahead for good at 9-7.
"I refuse to judge this year on one inning," UIC Head Coach Mike Dee said. "You have to give NC State credit.
"We had plenty of chances to win, but they hung in there and kept grinding."
NC State first baseman Aaron Bates paced the Wolfpack attack at the dish, going 4-for-6 with a RBI and a run scored, while teammates Ramon Corona (2 runs, RBI, solo homer), Ryan Pond (RBI), Brian Aragon (RBI, run) and Jake Muyco (RBI, run) each collected two hits on the afternoon.
With the victory, NC State improves to 41-18 on the season and will square off with the loser of Saturday night's contest between #1 Nebraska/#3 Creighton at 1:05 p.m. (CST) on Sunday afternoon. The Flames end their season with a record of 38-21-1.
NC State reliever Joey Devine (5-3) earned the victory for the Wolfpack, tossing 3.1 innings of hitless relief while fanning four batters. UIC reliever Scott Saling (4-2) was tagged with the loss, allowing one hit and two runs in 0.1 of an inning pitched.
UIC junior designated hitter Ted Rosinski led the Flames offensively, going 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. In two games, Rosinski went 6-for-8 with four runs scored, two RBI and a solo homer.
Sophomore outfielder Larry Gempp Jr. (RBI, run) and freshman first baseman Mark Hallberg (RBI, run) each added two hits for the Flames in defeat.
Although the Flames put forth a good showing at the Lincoln Regional, Dee knows that this will be a lasting memory for is squad.
"I'm disappointed in that we had an opportunity to win both games," Dee said. "We worked too hard for us to go 0-2 and just be happy to be here.
"We experienced a more intense, higher level of baseball here at the regional."
