#10 NC State Sweeps Minnesota with Walkoff

RALEIGH, N.C. – The 10th-ranked NC State baseball team rallied to earn a 5-4 walkoff win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Sunday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park to complete the series sweep.

With the go-ahead run on second base, Brad Debo ripped a line drive past a diving Minnesota first baseman and Evan Edwards raced around to score from second to give NC State its second walkoff win of the season.

NC State trailed 4-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth but scored three runs in the frame to remain unbeaten at 11-0, matching the best start for the program since 2004.

Avent’s Additions
“Once again, I want to say what a great team Minnesota is,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “We understand who we were playing and that’s going to be one of the better teams we play all year. I think they’re going to have a great year.

“We played very, very well especially after getting behind 4-0. That ninth inning says it all, this team really battles and I’m really proud of that.”

Quick Hits
– Minnesota (2-8) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the contest, but NC State didn’t go away and continued to battle.
– Edwards singled to start the sixth and scored the Wolfpack’s first run on a single by Patrick Bailey.
– Bailey later scored on an RBI groundout from Terrell Tatum, as NC State trimmed the margin to 4-2.
– Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings, forcing the Wolfpack to win it in the bottom of the ninth.
– Lawson McArthur and Jonny Butler each battled to draw a walk to start the frame and advanced to third and second, respectively, on a wild pitch.
– A sacrifice fly from Will Wilson scored McArthur before Edwards delivered a clutch double down the right field line to plate Butler and knot the game at four.
– With two outs in the inning, Debo came up big for the Wolfpack with the game-winning hit to lift the Wolfpack to its second walkoff win of the season.

Inside the Box Score
– Edwards led the Wolfpack with his second career four-hit performance, as he was 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.
– Debo and Tyler McDonough were both 2-for-5 with the former adding an RBI.
– Bailey, Vojtech Mensik and Tatum each had one hit in the contest.
– Bailey, Butler, Edwards and McDonough have all reached base safely in every game this season.
– Debo and Edwards extended their hitting streaks to six games.

On the Mound
– Reid Johnston made his first start of the season and pitched four innings before turning it over to the bullpen.
– The Wolfpack’s bullpen threw 5.0 innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run.
– Evan Justice went two innings and struck out a batter, prior to Nolan Clenney throwing two hitless innings with three strikeouts.
– Nick Swiney struck out both batters he faced, and Michael Bienlien finished the game on the mound to pick up his first win of the season.

On Deck
NC State returns to action Wednesday evening when the squad travels to NC Central. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at the Historic Durham Athletic Park.
Photo Credit: @NCStateBaseball