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North Carolina State Edges Past Oklahoma State 4-3
March 14, 2003 | Cowboy Baseball
March 14, 2003
Durham, N.C.- Rightfielder Joe Gaetti blasted a game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to push North Carolina State past Oklahoma State 4-3 in baseball action Friday afternoon.
NC State (15-4) trailed 3-1 in the sixth before designated hitter Justin Riley reached on a fielding error by shortstop Chris Gutierrez to open the stanza. OSU starter Scott Baker then walked the next batter before giving up Gaetti's eighth round-tripper of the year.
Both starting pitchers were tossing shutouts until the fifth inning, when the Cowboys took advantage of a throwing error by hurler Michael Rogers to score three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Leftfielder Scott Kirby lined a one-out double to left and moved to third on Chris Gutierrez's single to left. Centerfielder Jose Virgil's sacrifice bunt attempt was then misplayed by Rogers who let the popped bunt fall to the ground and hurriedly threw it into rightfield, allowing Kirby to score and Gutierrez to move to third. Second baseman Kenny Hansley hit a RBI single and third baseman Josh Fields a sacrifice fly to give the Pokes a 3-0 lead.
Baker had a no-hitter going into the bottom of the fifth before leftfielder Matt Camp hit a RBI single with two outs and runners on first and second to cut the lead to 3-1.
Rogers (5-1) struck out nine in 6.2 innings of work to pick up his fifth win of the year. Baker (3-3) was the tough luck loser, recording a career-high nine strikeouts on three hits in seven innings of work.
Gutierrez led the Cowboys offensively, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.
Oklahoma State (10-6) will be back in action tomorrow against Princeton at 2 p.m. CT at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
