NC State Baseball
8th Inning Heroics Push NC State Past UNCC 9-6
RALEIGH, N.C. – No. 12 NC State baseball earned its second win in as many days, as the Wolfpack defeated Charlotte, 9-6, Wednesday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park. The Pack scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to overcome a two-run deficit and held on for the victory.
NC State moves to 4-1 on the year, while Charlotte suffers its first loss of 2018 and is now 3-1. Sophomore Kent Klyman earned the win for the Pack, while Joe O’Donnell nailed down his third save. Phillip Perry was hit with the loss for the 49ers.
Quick Hits
– NC State plated the game’s first run in the bottom of the fourth after Brock Deatherage tripled to left center and scored on a balk call to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.
– The Wolfpack added four runs in the sixth to stretch the advantage to 5-0.
– Shane Shepard doubled to left field, scoring a pair of runs and Dillon Cooper singled later in the frame to drive in Shepard to make it 4-0.
– Josh McLain hit his team-leading third double down the left field to score Cooper and give NC State a 5-0 advantage.
– Charlotte responded in a big way with six runs in the top half of the seventh to grab a 6-5 lead, but the Wolfpack answered in the eighth.
– Cooper’s second hit of the day knotted the score at six, as J.T. Jarrett scored from second base and a sacrifice fly from Brett Kinneman gave the Pack a 7-6 advantage.
– Brad Debo gave NC State a three-run cushion with a two-RBI single up the middle, as NCSU pulled ahead, 9-6.
On the Mound
– Freshman Reid Johnston made his first career start on the mound and pitched three innings with two strikeouts before handing the ball to classmate Nick Swiney, who threw the next three.
– For the first time in his collegiate career, Kinneman saw action on the hill for the Wolfpack and he struck out a batter.
– Klyman pitched a hitless inning of relief to earn the win and turned it over to O’Donnell to nail down the save.
Inside the Box Score
– Cooper led NC State at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Debo and McLain were each 2-for-5.
– Wolfpack pitchers yielded just two extra-base hits in the game and only allowed the leadoff batter to reach in one inning.
– Six of NC State’s runs were scored with two outs in the inning.
Game Notes
– McLain’s double in the sixth inning extended his hitting streak to 13 games dating to last season, as he has recorded at least one hit in every game in 2018.
– Will Wilson also extended a streak, as his walk in the first inning stretched his reached base safely streak to 21 games.
– NC State out-hit Charlotte, 10-8, and the Wolfpack is a perfect 4-0 this season when tallying more hits in the contest.
Up Next
The Wolfpack returns to action this weekend when the Furman Paladins visit Doak Field for a three-game series. First pitch of Friday’s game is slated for 3 p.m.
NC State just defeated #11 UNC 9-8 via a walk-off Home Run from Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth in the Bottom of the 9th inning.
The Wolfpack have 6 walk-off wins in 2024, which leads the nation.
In a game in which there was a combined 8 Home Runs between both teams, it was the last one that mattered most.
UNC kicked things off in the Top of the 1st inning with a Home Run from Casey Cook. The Wolfpack would respond in the Bottom of the 1st with a 2-RBI Single from Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart.
Two-out damage from ‘Zart 💥 pic.twitter.com/cSn7vKoZBh
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 18, 2024
Cook would hit another Home Run in the Top of the 3rd, and Vance Honeycutt would also hit a 2-Run Home Run, giving the Tar Heels a 4-2 lead.
Once again, the Wolfpack responded in the bottom frame. Senior Third Baseman Alec Makarewicz hit his 15th Home Run of the season.
Ideal start to the home half of the third 💣#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/BrLSstM3D2
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
Junior Outfielder Chase Nixon had an RBI Single, and his Freshman brother Luke (2B) brought in the third run of the inning on a fielders choice, giving the Wolfpack a 5-4 lead.
Tie game! C-Nix delivers 😤 pic.twitter.com/aafYlvOhUh
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
The 4th inning was the only inning of the contest in which no runs were scored.
UNC’s Park Harber tied the game in the Top of the 5th with a solo shot.
Cozart was the Wolfpack’s MVP, giving his team a 3-run cushion in the bottom of the 6th inning with a 3-run Home Run. He had 5 RBI’s this evening.
TO THE MOON 📈🚀 pic.twitter.com/8g8pPUFJAN
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
The cushion wasn’t enough, with the Tar Heels scoring 3 runs over the next two innings. Alberto Osuna hit a solo shot, Alex Madera had an RBI Single, and Harber hit a sac fly.
With the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, with one out, Brandon Butterworth crushed the ball over the left field fence, snapping a 5-game losing streak against UNC.
CALLED. GAME.#Pack9 | @SlippinOnButter pic.twitter.com/6B15Jxkndr
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
Wolfpack Starter Sam Highfill lasted 3.1 innings, giving up 4 runs, while striking out 4. His ERA on the year is 5.16.
It was Sophomore Shane Van Dam that brought stability to the mound, pitching 3.2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs, while striking out 5. On the year, Van Dam’s ERA is 2.90.
Sophomore Derrick Smith came in to close things out, and gave up 1 run on 1 hit in 2 innings, striking out 2. Smith picked up the Win, and is 3-0 on the year.
Game 2 of the series is tomorrow night at 6pm at Doak Field. The Wolfpack will look to secure their first series victory over their rival since 2021, and their first one at home since 2016.
NC State and #11 UNC will kickoff a 3-game series in Raleigh tonight, but before the two rivals hit the diamond, here’s a Bracketology report for the Wolfpack before the first pitch.
D1Baseball currently projects that NC State will be the #2 seed in Greenville Region, hosted by #9 seed East Carolina. Back on April 2nd, the Wolfpack lost 4-12 to the Pirates at the Doak.
Baseball America projects NC State will be a #2 seed in the Knoxville Region, hosted by #6 seed Tennessee.
The Wolfpack are currently 20-14 overall, ranking 33rd in the RPI.