NC State Baseball
Second-Ranked NC State Drops Series Finale Against No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill
RALEIGH, N.C. – The second-ranked NC State baseball team loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second, but No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill held on for the 5-4 win Sunday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The Wolfpack suffers its first series loss and sweep since last season, when the squad bounced back by winning its next 13 series, including 10 in ACC play.
NC State moves to 31-11 on the year and 15-9 in ACC play, while UNC has won eight of its last nine games to improve to 31-13 and 18-6 in conference action. Caden O’Brien earned the win for the Tar Heels and is now 4-0, while Johnny Piedmonte was charged with the loss for the Wolfpack.
Quick Hits
– The Tar Heels pushed across the first runs of the game after a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch with the bases loaded to give UNC a 2-0 lead.
– Brock Deatherage led off the second for NC State with a solo homer over the left field wall to cut the deficit in half on his eighth blast of the season.
– An RBI single from Ike Freeman gave the Heels a 3-1 lead in the top of the third following a hit-by-pitch and a sac bunt to move the runner into scoring position.
– The Tar Heels plated a pair of runs in the top half of the fifth to extend the lead to 5-1 and the Wolfpack countered in the bottom of the inning with two runs to make it 5-3.
– Freshman Patrick Bailey drew a two-out walk and Deatherage stepped to the plate next and hit his second home run of the day to log his first career multi-homer game.
– Stephen Pitarra led off the eighth for the Wolfpack with a double down the left field line and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to narrow the UNC lead to 5-4.
– NC State looked to rally with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, as three consecutive walks loaded the bases, but UNC got the next batter to fly out to right field to end the game.
Inside the Box Score
– Redshirt senior Joe O’Donnell made his 87th career appearance on the mound, which ties Joey Devine for the program record.
– Deatherage led NC State at the plate with a 3-for-4 outing, highlighted by a pair of home runs and three RBI.
– The Burlington, N.C., native is the fourth Wolfpack player to tally a multi-homer game this season.
– Kent Klyman threw 3.1 innings of relief and struck out a career-high six batters on a career-best 70 pitches. Both runs he surrendered were unearned and he did not allow an extra-base hit, as the Tar Heels only collected one for the game.
On Deck
NC State returns to action Wednesday evening when the squad welcomes the Campbell Camels to Doak Field at Dail Park. First pitch is set for 6 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.