#10 Seed NC State Falls to #2 Seed Kentucky on a Walk-Off Home Run in the Bottom of the 10th

#10 Seed NC State lost to #2 Seed Kentucky on a walk-off Home Run in the Bottom of the 10th inning, falling 5-4. The first three games of the 2024 College World Series have ended due to a walk-off hit.

It’s unfortunate to lose a game when you have more Hits (10/9). The Wolfpack left 12 runners on base, compared to Kentucky’s 7.

NC State took a 1-run lead into the Bottom of the 9th inning, and the ball was in the glove of Freshman Jacob Dudan. With no outs, Ryan Nicholson stepped up to the plate and hit a Solo Home Run to tie the game up.

Kentucky carried a 2-run lead into the 7th inning, but Senior Wolfpack 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz answered with a 2-Run Home Run to tie the game.

.@Alec_mak99 bombs hit different in Omaha🤯 pic.twitter.com/AQ2ixnH0pE

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 15, 2024

Then in the Top of the 9th, Senior NC State 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington scored on a wild pitch, giving the Wolfpack a 1-run lead. That marked the first time that Kentucky has trailed the entire NCAA Tournament.

The lead belongs to the WOLFPACK🤪 pic.twitter.com/76C0XXE8Lv

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 15, 2024

NC State Senior Pitcher Sam Highfill pitched a gutsy game, notching a Quality Start of 7 innings pitched, surrendering 3 earned runs, and striking out 7.

The Wolfpack’s bullpen has been the strength of their pitching staff the past couple of months, but today it showed some cracks.

Dudan gave up a Home Run to tie the game in the Bottom of the 9th, and Sophomore Derrick Smith gave up a Solo Home Run to Mitchell Daly in the Bottom of the 10th that ended the game.

The Wolfpack’s 2-3-4 batters were incredible today. Pennington went 2 for 4, scoring 2 Runs. A-Mak was 2 for 5 with a Home Run, 2 RBI’s and a Run. Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart was 3 for 4 with a Run and a Walk.

NC State will play the loser of Florida and Texas A&M on Monday.