Courtesy: NC State John Lambert held North Carolina to one hit in 6 1/3 innings, but was charged with the loss in a 5-2 defeat.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina drew a season-high 11 walks, including five in a three-run third inning, to defeat NC State 5-2 on Saturday at Doak Field at Dail Park. North Carolina scored twice on bases-loaded walks, twice on bases-loaded hit batters, and once on a passed ball. The Tar Heels did not have an RBI hit in the entire game.
The win by the Tar Heels evens the series at a game apiece. North Carolina improved to 38-12 overall and 17-8 in the ACC. The loss dropped NC State to 23-28 overall, and 9-17 in ACC play.
John Lambert (1-4) started for the Wolfpack and went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on just one hit. He struck out a career-high 10 and walked nine, including five in UNC’s three-run third inning. Adam Warren (6-2) started for the Tar Heels and threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits. He struck out seven and walked three. Brian Moran finished the final 3 2/3 innings for North Carolina for his third save of the year. Moran held the Wolfpack hitless, striking out three.
NC State jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first. Kyle Wilson walked to lead off and Pratt Maynard rolled a perfect one-out hit-and-run single through the left side of the infield to put runners on first and third. After Pat Ferguson walked to load the bases, hot-hitting Andrew Ciencin gave the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead with a line drive single up the middle to score Wilson and Maynard.
The Tar Heels sent nine hitters to the plate in the third. Ben Bunting started the frame with a walk. Lambert got Garrett Gore to fly out to right for the first out, but walked Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager to load the bases. The first run came across when Lambert hit Levi Michael with a pitch, scoring Bunting from third. With the bases still juiced, Lambert walked Mark Fleury Ryan Graepel to bring two more runs in, spotting North Carolina a 3-2 lead.
Lambert settled down after the third inning, striking out an additional five Tar Heels and issuing just two walks over his next 3 1/3 innings. Lambert came on to start the seventh, and after a walk to Garrett Gore and a pop-out, he gave way to reliever Jake Kensmoe. Gore overslid the bag at second on a stolen-base attempt and was tagged out for the second out of the inning. The bases were not clear for long. Kensmoe hit Seager to start a two-out rally. Michael followed with a single up the middle and Fleury walked to load the bases and chase Kensmoe from the game.
Reliever Kyle Rutter hit Ryan Graepel with a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in Seager from third to give North Carolina a 4-2 lead.
The Heels added to their lead in the top of the ninth. Ackley led off with a triple to right-center off reliever Grant Sasser and scored on a passed ball, extending the Tar Heel lead to 5-2.
The Pack will close out the series with North Carolina on Sunday at Doak Field at Dail Park. Game time is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on WKNC-FM (88.1) and over the internet on gopack.com via Pack Pass.
Courtesy: NC State
