#5 NC State Wins Wild, Extra-Inning Thriller to Match Program’s Best Start

DURHAM, N.C. – In one of the wildest college baseball finishes, the 5th-ranked NC State baseball team overcame an early seven-run deficit to earn an 11-10 victory in extra innings against NC Central, Wednesday afternoon at the Historic Durham Athletic Park.

With the win, NC State matches the best to a season in program history at 12-0, achieved by the 1992 squad.

The Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead and later extended it to 8-1, but the Wolfpack continued to fight and showed a ton of poise despite trailing. A three-run eighth inning knotted the game at eight before NC State scored two runs in the top of the ninth to pull ahead, 10-8.

The first three batters reached for NC Central (5-8) in the bottom of the ninth and two of them scored, but the winning run was thrown out at the plate. Right fielder Devonte Brown made a strong throw to catcher Brad Debo, who received the throw on the right side of the plate and dove across the plate to make the tag on a game-saving play.

Patrick Bailey led off the 10th with a solo home run to right field and that proved to be the difference, as the Wolfpack held on for its third extra-inning win in as many chances. The sophomore catcher also hit the go-ahead, game-winning homer at Coastal Carolina.

Quick Hits

– NC State scored seven unanswered runs to rally from the 8-1 deficit and knot the score at 8-8 in the top of the eighth.

– The Wolfpack chipped away at the NC Central lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, seventh and three in the eighth.

– A two-RBI double to left center by David Vazquez sparked the club and RBI from Debo and Brown helped cut the margin to three at 8-5 in the seventh.

– Jonny Butler walked to start the seventh and scored on a double from Will Wilson, as the sophomore hustled around to score from first base.

– A single from Evan Edwards plated Wilson and he scored on a sacrifice fly from Tyler McDonough to level the tally at eight apiece.

– Wilson doubled again in the ninth, this time bringing in a pair of runs as he tied for the game-high with four RBI to give NC State a 10-8 lead.

– After the Eagles knotted the game in the bottom half and nearly won the game, Bailey hit his second round-tripper of the season to start the 10th.

– Kent Klyman pitched around a two-out single in the bottom of the inning to nail down his fourth win, which is tied for the ACC lead.

Inside the Box Score

– Wilson led the Pack at the plate with a 4-for-6 performance, the sixth time in his career he’s tallied a four-hit game and first of the year.

– Edwards, McDonough and Vazquez each had a pair of hits in a 14-hit outing for NC State, which ties as the season-high.

– Debo and Edwards each extended their hitting streaks to seven games, while Bailey, Butler, Edwards and McDonough have all reached base safely in every game this season.

– Seven pitchers took the mound for the Wolfpack and struck out a season-high 15 batters.

On Deck

NC State will return to action this weekend when it opens ACC play at home against Pittsburgh. Friday’s game is set for 3 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park.