NC State Baseball
No. 4 NC State Takes Series Opener Against Wake Forest with 8-5 Win
RALEIGH, N.C. – The fourth-ranked NC State baseball team recorded its sixth consecutive win with an 8-5 victory in game one of the series against Wake Forest Friday night at Doak Field at Dail Park.
After the Demon Deacons knotted the score at 5-5 in the top of the sixth, the Wolfpack answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half and added a run in the eighth to secure the win.
NC State moves to 37-12 on the year and 16-9 in ACC play, while Wake Forest falls to 22-27 and 11-14 in conference action. Sophomore Kent Klyman earned the win on the mound with 3.2 innings of shutout relief, while Wake Forest reliever Antonio Menendez was charged with the loss (0-4).
Avent’s Additions
Overall thoughts…
“I thought we played really well,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “Griffin Roberts is as good as anybody in this league, I thought we had some really good at-bats and made him throw a lot of pitches and got to their bullpen early.
“I thought Reid [Johnston] was outstanding. It’s impressive to have a freshman be your Friday night starter at this time of the year. He continues to compete on every big stage. He is the epitome of a competitive pitcher; our staff is full of them”
Quick Hits
– NC State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a three-run homer from Brett Kinneman, his 15th of the year which ties the ACC lead.
– Stephen Pitarra started the inning with a single and Patrick Bailey reached on a fielder’s choice to score on Kinneman’s blast.
– The Wolfpack tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth to open up a 5-0 advantage after a two-RBI single from Will Wilson to plate J.T. Jarrett and Pitarra, who both walked earlier in the frame.
– Wake Forest trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the fifth, after scoring its first run of the game on a balk call before a two-RBI single from Patrick Frick.
– A two-run homer from the Deacs’ Bobby Seymour knotted the score at 5-5 in the top of the sixth.
– NC State countered with a pair of runs in the bottom half to regain the lead, 7-5.
– Pitarra scored from third on a balk and McLain scored on a sacrifice fly from Wilson.
– In the eighth, Wilson picked up his fourth RBI of the game as he doubled to right center to score McLain, who tripled to start the inning, and push the NC State lead to 8-5.
Inside the Box Score
– McLain led the Wolfpack at the plate and was the only player in the game to record three hits, as he extended his reached base safely streak to 18 games.
– Freshman Patrick Bailey and Wilson also turned in multi-hit outings, as both tallied a pair of hits in the contest.
– Brock Deatherage, Kinneman and Pitarra all had one hit for the Wolfpack.
On the Mound
– Freshman Reid Johnston started on the mound for NC State and pitched 4.2 innings, allowing just one hit to go along with a career-best six strikeouts.
– He retired 10 consecutive batters from the second to the fifth inning, but struggled with his command late in the fifth.
– Klyman was stellar in relief to pick up his sixth win, as he allowed just three hits in 3.2 shutout innings of work.
On Deck
NC State and Wake Forest return to the field for game two of the series Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m.
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.
