NC State Baseball
NC State Edges No. 3 Duke in Pitcher’s Duel 2-1 to Clinch Series
DURHAM, N.C. – The second-ranked NC State baseball team edged No. 3 Duke in a pitcher’s duel, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field to clinch the series. The Wolfpack extends its ACC series win streak to 10, dating back to last season, which is the league’s longest streak.
NC State remains the only team in the conference that has not lost an ACC series this season. The Pack has now won its last five games and eight of its last nine.
The Wolfpack owns the conference’s best overall record at 31-7 on the year and best conference mark with a 15-5 ledger, while the Blue Devils are 30-10 and 12-7 in ACC play.
Senior Brian Brown threw 5.2 shutout innings to earn the win and remain unbeaten on the year at 6-0, while Joe O’Donnell nailed down his eighth save of the season. Duke’s starter Mitch Stallings was charged with the loss and falls to 3-3.
Avent’s Additions
Overall thoughts…
“It’s nice to win a game like this. I’m proud of our guys, as I always have been,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “Brian Brown was sick today but went out there and gave us five strong innings. I’m proud of him and our whole ballclub.
“On the other side, Mitch Stallings pitched as good a game against us and we’ve seen all year. He mixed speeds and was outstanding.”
Turning Point
– After five scoreless innings of play, NC State grabbed momentum and pushed across the game’s first run in the sixth inning thanks to a leadoff double from Josh McLain and an RBI triple by Will Wilson.
– Wilson fell behind 0-2 in the count but smashed a triple to deep right center to plate McLain from second.
– Evan Edwards stepped to the plate next and hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Wilson to tag and score from third.
– He was initially called out, but the call was reversed following a video review.
Inside the Box Score
– McLain led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 3-for-4 outing, as he is now 10-for-14 this week with a .714 batting average.
– Freshman Terrell Tatum was 2-for-4 in the contest to extend his hitting streak to eight games.
– NC State got two hits with runners in scoring position, while holding Duke to an 0-for-11 clip with runners in scoring position.
On the Mound
– Brown pitched a gem, retiring nine consecutive batters at one point in the game en route to his sixth win of the season. He struck out five batters and did not allow an extra-base hit.
– Kent Klyman relieved him in the sixth and threw 2.2 innings with three strikeouts.
– O’Donnell took over with an out in the ninth and retired both batters he faced to secure his eighth save.
On Deck
NC State and Duke will wrap up the series with game three Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field.
NC State Baseball
NC State Came From Behind to Beat UNC 5-4 Securing 1st Home Series Win Over the Tar Heels Since 2016!
NC State came from behind to defeat their rival #11 UNC 5-4, winning their first series at home against the Tar Heels since 2016. The last time NC State won a series against UNC was in Chapel Hill in 2021.
A good team learns to take advantage of their opponents mistakes, and that’s exactly what the Wolfpack did this evening. Of the 5 runs they scored, only 3 of them were earned.
In the Bottom of the 8th inning, with the Wolfpack trailing 4-2, Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth was the author of late-game heroics once again, hitting an RBI Single, knocking in Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz, but the play wasn’t over. Butterworth advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart scored on a Wild Pitch. After a groundout by Junior Outfielder Chase Nixon, Butterworth would score on a Passed Ball during the next at bat, scoring the winning run of the game.
BUTTERS! More late-inning damage for No. 3 🧈 pic.twitter.com/HKU1AVGm0Z
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 20, 2024
CHAOS! Pack leads heading to the ninth!! pic.twitter.com/ifQl0t2oG2
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 20, 2024
Sophomore Dominic Fritton was fairly steady, giving up 4 earned runs in 6 innings pitched, striking out 7 (4 walks). Fortunately, no one was on base for all three of UNC’s Home Runs.
When Fritton left the game, the Pack was trailing 4-1, with their only run coming off of an RBI Double by Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington in the Bottom of the 3rd.
Penny ties it up at The Doak!#Pack9 | @Garrettpenn14 pic.twitter.com/Ww7aTJy705
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
The Wolfpack bullpen was exceptional this evening, putting 0’s on the board for 3 straight innings after Fritton exited the game. Freshman Jaxon Lucas pitched two scoreless innings with 2 K’s, and Freshman Jacob Dudan pitched a scoreless 9th, picking up his 4th Save of the year. Lucas was credited with the Win, and is 2-0 on the year.
While I’m dishing out kudos, I don’t want to forget Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III’s RBI Double in the Bottom of the 7th, cutting UNC’s lead to 2 Runs.
Two-out damage 👊#Pack9 | @eliserrano__ pic.twitter.com/qmbkMZvkgS
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 20, 2024
This NC State is peaking at the right time, against the right teams.
The Wolfpack will look to finish things off with a sweep tomorrow afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 3pm.
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.