Courtesy: Scott Pilling Senior outfielder Ryan Pond
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Ryan Pond's tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning led North Carolina State past James Madison 6-2 on Friday night in the Raleigh Regional at Doak Field at Dail Park.
Pond, who had struck out with a runner in scoring position earlier in the game, pulled the ball down the left-field line to score catcher Christ Schaeffer and shortstop Tommy Foschi with the game's decisive runs.
Schaeffer and Drew Martin homered for the top-seeded Wolfpack (39-20), who snapped a three-year string of losses in their NCAA tournament openers. They advance to face second-seeded South Carolina in the championship bracket Saturday at 7 p.m. No. 4 seed James Madison (38-18) slips into an elimination game against Charlotte in a 2 p.m. contest.
With the game tied 2-all, Schaeffer got things started for N.C. State when he led off the seventh with a single off reliever Trevor Knight (7-3).
Foschi followed that with a single, and two batters later, Pond brought them home by sending a 3-2 pitch down the left-field line.
Schaeffer's third homer of the season _ a two-run blast to left _ extended the lead in the bottom of the eighth.
The Wolfpack got off to a fast start, taking a 1-0 lead when Jeremy Synan's run-scoring sacrifice fly brought home Dallas Poulk.
Martin's drive came in the third inning when he sent an 0-2 changeup over the fence in left field for his third homer of the season.
Joey Cutler (5-0) claimed the victory after working 3 1-3 innings of relief. Freshman Jake Buchanan struck out five in 5 2-3 innings, scattered three hits and retired 10 in a row before running into trouble in the sixth.
Courtesy: Scott Pilling
