NC State Baseball
NC State Falls to Florida State in ACC Championship, 5-2
DURHAM, N.C. – The NC State baseball team battled against All-ACC left hander Drew Parrish but was unable to put a rally together, as the Florida State Seminoles earned a 5-2 victory Friday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
With the win, the Seminoles advance to Saturday’s semifinals to face Clemson, while Pittsburgh and Louisville will play in the other semifinal.
NC State will now await the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, which will air live on ESPNU at Noon. The NCAA will announce the 16 regional hosts on Sunday evening at 8:30 p.m. on www.ncaa.com/cws, ESPN Bottomline and by a press release.
The Wolfpack is now 40-16 on the year and Florida State improves to 41-17.
Avent’s Additions
Overall thoughts…
“I thought we played well tonight,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “As a matter of fact, Brian Brown was very, very good for two innings. The third inning was where they did most of the damage, and he made some big pitches the first two innings, and the third inning he just couldn’t seem to make the pitch. But part of that is Florida State.
“We just got through playing them three times in Tallahassee, and obviously we see the teams that we see, but for the teams that we played this year, and we played a great schedule, that’s as good a team and as hot a team as we’ve seen all year. They’re playing their best baseball of the season, and Parrish was just — that’s twice we’ve seen him in a week, and there’s not enough good things I can say about him.”
Quick Hits
– Florida State struck first in the contest after a pair of singles and an RBI double by Cal Raleigh in the top of the first.
– The Seminoles grabbed a 4-0 lead after a three-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Raleigh.
– After FSU tacked on a run in the top of the fifth, NC State answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit to 5-3.
– Jack Conley opened the frame with a single to center field and scored on a double off the wall in left field by Evan Edwards.
– A two-out RBI single from the ACC leader in hits, Josh McLain, scored Edwards to narrow the margin to 5-3.
– Both teams were held scoreless in the final four innings of play and NC State was unable to cut into the Florida State advantage.
– McLain was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI to lead the Wolfpack, while Conley, Deatherage and Edwards each had one hit.
– Parrish remains unbeaten on the year at 5-0 with the complete effort against the Pack.
On the Mound
– Brian Brown started on the mound and struck out five batters through his first two innings of work, highlighted by striking out the side in the first.
– It was his 60th career start, which ties the program record along with Terry Harvey.
– The senior ran into some trouble in the third and gave way to Nolan Clenney, who induced a lineout and a fielder’s choice to end the inning without allowing another run.
– Kent Klyman relieved him and threw 3.2 innings with three strikeouts, allowing just four hits (all singles) and one earned run.
– Joe O’Donnell closed out the contest with 2.1 innings of no-hit ball complemented by three strikeouts.
On Deck
NC State will now await the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, which will air live on ESPNU at Noon. The NCAA will announce the 16 regional hosts on Sunday evening at 8:30 p.m. on www.ncaa.com/cws, ESPN Bottomline and by a press release.
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.