RALEIGH, N.C. – An 11-2 lead should be safe, even in college
baseball with its aluminum bats, short fences and wind-blown ballparks. NC State
discovered otherwise Wednesday, building an 11-2 advantage against North
Carolina A&T through four innings, only to have to hang on for dear life
and a 14-9 victory over the Aggies at Doak Field at Dail Park.
Marcus Jones had a career day for the Wolfpack, tying his
career high with four hits, two of them bases-clearing extra-base hits that
accounted for his career-high six RBIs. Jones hit a three-run double to key the
Wolfpack’s four-run first inning, then had a three-run triple in the fourth to
highlight another four-run frame.
A&T starter Nick Rogers (0-1) allowed seven of those
runs on eight hits in three innings of work and was tagged with the loss.
Wolfpack starter Jeff Stallings and reliever Joey Cutler
(2-0) did their part to make the lead stand up. Stallings allowed two runs on
three hits in three innings, and Cutler pitched two innings and allowed a pair
of unearned runs. Through five innings, the Pack still led 11-4 and looked to
be in complete command.
In the top of the sixth inning, however, the world rolled
over on lefthander Alex Sogard, whose two-third of an inning defined the
concept of a bad-luck outing. Sogard, who was charged with four runs, two
earned, gave up a single to left to Joe McIntyre leading off the inning, then
retired Neil Rosser on a routine fly ball to right. Joe Wade hit a grounder to first base that kicked off the glove of Bill Edwards for an error, putting runners on the corners, and Phillip
Brewington struck out for the second out of the inning.
With two outs, Sogard’s luck turned all bad. Nick Mayo hit a
nubber to the left of the mound, and Sogard fielded the ball but was unable to
make a play. The infield single scored McIntyre, and Jeremy Jones singled to
left to score Wade and cut the lead to 11-6. Nelson Santos followed with
another swinging bunt to the left side of the mound. Third baseman Matt Payne
charged this one, but Santos beat the throw for another infield single to load
the bases for C.J. Beatty, who singled through the right side to drive in a pair of runs and cut the Wolfpack lead to three runs at
11-8.
Jake Buchanan, who wound up earning his second save of the
season, finished off the unlucky sixth for Sogard and wound up allowing just
one run on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. A&T’s last run came on Beatty’s RBI
single in the top of the eighth, which cut the lead to a mere two runs at 11-9.
NC State finally pushed the lead back to five runs with a
three-spot in the bottom of the eighth, thanks in large part to the speed of
reserve outfielder Wade Moore. Jeremy Synan led off the inning and was hit by a
pitch. Moore followed and beat out a bunt to the left side of the mound. Devon
Cartwright reached on an infield single to load the bases with none down, and
Aggies reliever Marquis Frink then unloaded a wild pitch that caromed off
towards the third-base dugout. Synan scored easily, and Moore never hesitated
rounding third, scoring all the way from second on the play. Cartwright wound
up on third base and scored on Payne’s sacrifice fly to center field for the
final run of the game.
NC State will return to action this weekend with a
three-game series against Virginia, the opening of the Atlantic Coast
Conference series. Game times are 3 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday, and
1:30 p.m. on Sunday. All three games will be broadcast on WKNC-FM (88.1) and
will be available through Pack Pass on gopack.com.
Courtesy: Peyton Williams/NC State
