Quote:FSU  200 001 000  3  5  1
NCSU 330 001 01X  8 14  1

W - Davidson (6-3)  L - Browning (4-4)

NC State beats FSU again
by FSU Sports Information

The 10th-ranked Seminole baseball team closed out the 2005 regular season with an 8-3 loss to No. 22 NC State Saturday evening. The Wolfpack (39-15, 17-13) limited the FSU offense to just five hits, three from All-American candidate Shane Robinson, and three runs despite the fact they issued nine walks in the game. Barret Browning (4-4) started the game for FSU and took the loss after giving up five runs in an inning of work. The Seminoles finished the season in fourth place in the conference and will open ACC Tournament play in Jacksonville Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. versus North Carolina.

The Seminoles got off to a good start in the top of the first versus NC State starter Sam Walls. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second and then a misplayed sac bunt loaded the bases with nobody out in the inning. A bases loaded walk to Aaron Cheesman made it 1-0 and gave the senior his third RBI of the series. A double play helped to stymie the FSU threat but it did push the second run home making it a 2-0 game in the first.

Browning got into some trouble in the bottom of the first as he gave up two singles putting runners on the corners. Then a double down the left field line cut the lead in half and put two runners in scoring position.  A passed ball brought in the tying run and then NC State's fourth hit of the frame made it a 3-2 Wolfpack lead.

Things got worse for the Seminoles in the bottom of the second. Not only did lead-off batter Matt Devine hit a solo homer to start the inning but National Player of the Year candidate Robinson slammed into the wall on the play. The sophomore gave the entire Seminole nation a scare as he lay on the field and had to receive medical attention. After about five minutes, he was deemed healthy enough to stay in the game. The nightmare in the outfield continued on the next play though as a diving single to right got passed Jack Rye as he slipped to the ground and the ball rolled all the way to the wall for a NC State triple. The next batter, trying to sac the run home, reached on a bunt single making it a 5-2 game. That ended Browning's day and brought Michael Hyde into the ballgame. The pitching change didn't seem to change FSU's fortunes as two more hits, the second a double, made it a 6-2 game.

For the second straight inning FSU drew a lead off walk, this time to open the fifth. After a fly ball out, Walls sixth walk of the game ended his stint. It was the most walks allowed in a game by any NC State pitcher in 2005. After the second out of the inning, a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position for pinch hitter Dennis Guinn. The freshman struck out ending the threat.

NC State, who had been held without a run in the third and fourth, put two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth with two outs. Hyde got the final out on a K looking though as the game remained 6-2.

The sixth started off just like the fourth and fifth for FSU with a walk. This time though FSU did move the runner over as Tony Thomas, Jr. was plunked on a 3-1 pitch to put two runners on. Reliever Phillip Davidson (6-3), who picked up the win, got the first out on K then Robinson loaded the bases with a single to shallow center field. A ground out brought in FSU's first run since the first inning and cut the Pack lead to 6-3. That was all the Seminoles could get though as they left their eighth and ninth runners on base.

NC State came right back and got the run back. A Hyde walk started things off. Then a one-out double up the middle brought the runner home following a sac bunt that moved him into scoring position.

FSU put a couple of runners on base in the seventh but with two outs already on the board. A wild pitch put runners on the corners but the Wolfpack's fifth K of the day ended another Seminole threat.

NC State built on their lead in the eighth. Tyler Chambliss, who came into the day having not allowed an extra base hit all season, gave up his second homer on consecutive pitches. After giving up a walk-off homer in the first game Saturday, Chambliss' next pitch in the second was sent over the left field wall for NC State's eighth run.

Bryan Henry (8-2) will open the tournament on the mound for FSU and Mark Sauls will pitch game two. Live video broadcasts will be available for all ACC Tournament games that are not televised along with Steve Melewski's live radio broadcast available on WFLA locally and on the Internet at seminoles.com.

2005 ACC Tournament Bracket
<a href='http://www.sectionb.com/2005accbracket.jpg' target='_blank'>http://www.sectionb.com/2005accbracket.jpg</a>

Section B Online Player of the Game:
Shane Robinson (3-5, 1 Run)