Sixth-Ranked Tar Heels Slip Past #2 NC State in Series Opener, 6-5

RALEIGH, N.C. – The second-ranked NC State baseball team came up short in the series opener against No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill Friday night, as the Tar Heels slipped past the Wolfpack with a 6-5 win at Doak Field at Dail Park.

The Wolfpack led 4-3 after five innings of play, but the Heels scored three runs in the top of the eighth and held on for the victory.

NC State is now 31-9 on the year and 15-7 in ACC play, while UNC moves to 29-13 and 16-6 in conference games. Ben Casparius earned the win on the mound for the Tar Heels with an inning of relief, while Kent Klyman was charged with the loss for the Pack.

Quick Hits
– NC State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the contest after plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning.
– Patrick Bailey and Brock Deatherage started the frame with back-to-back singles and Bailey scored on an RBI single to left field by Stephen Pitarra.
– Dillon Cooper drove in Deatherage on a sacrifice fly to center field, as NCSU pushed across the game’s second run.
– UNC-Chapel Hill countered with three runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 advantage, but NC State answered with a run in the bottom half to even the tally at three apiece.
– Bailey led off with a solo homer over the right field wall, as he launched a 2-2 pitch from Tar Heels starter Cooper Criswell for his sixth home run.
– An RBI double by Brett Kinneman gave the Wolfpack a 4-3 lead with Josh McLain racing around to score from first base on a ball hit into the gap in left center.
– Ike Freeman came up big for UNC in the eighth, as he hit a bases-clearing double to put the Heels on top, 6-4.
– The Wolfpack threatened in the bottom half of the inning and got a run back on an RBI walk from McLain, but unfortunately a called strikeout followed to end the rally.

Inside the Box Score
– Bailey led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, highlighted by three runs, an RBI and a home run.
– McLain singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to nine games, the longest current streak for NC State.
– Freshman Reid Johnston made his second ACC start and pitched 4.2 innings with five strikeouts, yielding three runs on six hits.

On Deck
The Wolfpack and Tar Heels return to the diamond for game two of the series Saturday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.