NC State Wipes Away a 6-Run Deficit to Beat Cal 7-6 to Clinch the Series

Through 4 innings, Cal was shutting out NC State 6-0, but as we’ve seen from the Pack this year, there was plenty of fight left in them.

Nine of the Wolfpack’s 12 hits came in the final 5 innings. After Game 2 starter Heath Andrews was tagged for 6 earned runs in 4 innings, NC State picked him up by scoring 6 runs in the top of the 5th. After a solid start to the year, Andrews has struggled mightily as of late, giving up 5+ earned runs in 3 of his last 4 starts, causing his ERA to soar to 5.81.

In the 5th, the Wolfpack scored their first three runs off RBI singles from Junior Third Baseman Matt Heavner, Freshman Center Fielder Ty Head, and Sophomore First Baseman Chris McHugh. Head scored the 4th run on a wild pitch, and the final two runs of the inning came from RBI singles by Sophomore Catcher Alex Sosa and Sophomore Second Baseman Luke Nixon.

Junior Starter Dominic Fritton garners most of the hype on the Wolfpack pitching staff, but in my opinion, Freshman Anderson Nance might be the most impressive pitcher on the staff so far in 2025. After NC State tied the game at 6 apiece, Nance entered and pitched five PERFECT innings, striking out 7 and picking up his 6th win of the season (6-1), which leads the team. Nance now boasts a 2.95 ERA on the year—but what he’s done on the road is mind-boggling: a 5-0 record with a 0.40 ERA.

Junior Right Fielder Brayden Fraasman hit a solo home run in the top of the 7th, delivering the game-winning run for the Pack. Fraasman’s homer was his 8th of the season, tying him for the team lead with Senior Shortstop Justin DeCriscio and Junior Left Fielder Josh Hogue.

The Wolfpack has now won 8 of its 9 weekend series this season.

NC State will look to sweep the Golden Bears in Game 3, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. this evening.