NC State Baseball
#21 NC State Edges #19 Coastal Carolina in Extra Innings to Stay Perfect
CONWAY, S.C. – Facing its first ranked opponent of the season, the 21st-ranked NC State baseball team erased a four-run deficit en route to earning a 7-6 extra-inning win against No. 19 Coastal Carolina Sunday evening at Springs Brooks Stadium.
After the Chanticleers grabbed an early lead in the game, NC State didn’t panic and continued to have great at-bats at the plate. The Wolfpack pushed across two runs in the third and four in the fifth to tie the game at 6-6.
From there, both teams’ bullpens were stellar, but it was the Pack’s that held the Chants scoreless after the fourth inning. Sophomore Patrick Bailey barreled up a 2-0 fastball in the bottom of the 11th and it left the yard for the game winner on his first home run of the season.
#Bailey heading to the plate 👌 pic.twitter.com/TmMFFuT84H
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) February 24, 2019
With the win, the Wolfpack moves to 7-0 on the season and the Chanticleers were handed their first loss (7-1). NC State concludes a perfect weekend in the Baseball at the Beach Tournament, following wins against Kent State and Michigan State, respectively.
Avent’s Additions
“I’m really proud of our guys,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “Coastal Carolina doesn’t lose at home very often. This is the type of environment that can rattle the road team and I never thought we got rattled.
“We didn’t play well early, but once [Dalton] Feeney came into the game and once Evan [Edwards] hit that home run, I saw an NC State team that was much more confident and started doing things well.”
Turning Point
The first two batters reached for Coastal Carolina in the bottom of the ninth, but NC State’s Kent Klyman got the next batter to pop up the sacrifice bunt attempt for the out as neither runner was able to advance.
Dillon Cooper then made one of the biggest plays of the game, as he gloved a slow grounder to the right side of the infield and made a strong throw to Will Wilson covering second base for the out. The baserunner for the Chanticleers assumed the play was going to be to first and jogged into second, allowing Cooper’s throw to beat the runner for the second out of the ninth.
Klyman got a swinging strikeout to get out of the inning and send the game to extras.
Quick Hits
– After NC State pitchers held opponents without an earned run for the previous 29 innings, Coastal Carolina grabbed a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the bottom of the first to snap the streak.
– A three-run homer in the second pushed the Chanticleers advantage to 4-0, but the Wolfpack countered with a pair of runs in the third.
– Jonny Butler doubled to start the frame and Wilson singled, as both scored on a single to right center off the bat of Evan Edwards to cut the Coastal lead in half, 4-2.
– The Chants added a run in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth to pull ahead 6-2 before the Wolfpack answered with four runs in the fifth to knot the score.
– Wilson ripped an RBI double to right center on an 0-2 pitch and Patrick Bailey followed with a sacrifice fly to left field.
– Edwards had the big hit in the inning, as he launched a 3-2 fastball over the wall in right center for his third homer of the season to level the tally at six apiece.
– The Wolfpack threatened in the seventh, loading the bases with one out but a double play followed to end the inning.
– Bailey’s first home run of the season came at the perfect time, as his leadoff blast in the 11th proved to be the difference.
Inside the Box Score
– Bailey and Wilson each turned in three-hit performances, as Bailey had a pair of RBIs and scored a run while Wilson scored twice and drove in a run.
– Butler tallied a 2-for-4 showing with two runs and Edwards was 2-for-5 with four RBIs.
– Freshman Vojtech Mensik also had a pair of hits in the contest, while Brad Debo and Tyler McDonough had one hit apiece.
– The Wolfpack has hit at least one homer in six of its seven games this season.
On the Mound
– Sophomore Nick Swiney started on the mound for the Pack and threw 2.2 innings before giving way to Mathieu Gauthier.
– Alec Barger took over next and pitched two-thirds of an inning before departing.
– Dalton Feeney was electric out of the NC State bullpen, as he retired the first 11 batters he faced with three strikeouts.
– Klyman came on in the ninth and went the distance to earn his third win of the season, which leads all pitchers in the ACC.
WHAT. A. GAME. #GoPack 💯 pic.twitter.com/yE6h9vYAmr
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) February 25, 2019
On Deck
NC State will return to action on Wednesday when the Wolfpack makes the short trip to Campbell. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. at Jim Perry Stadium.
(PhotoCredit: GoPack)