NC State Wolfpack

May 24, 2012

Box Score | Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - NC State dropped a 7-3 decision to Wake Forest Thursday night at NewBridge Bank Park on the second day of play at the 2012 ACC Tournament.

Trea Turner's solo homer on the first pitch of the game gave NC State (39-16) a 1-0 lead, but Wake Forest (33-23) tied the game in the second. The Pack climbed ahead for the second time at 2-1, before the Deacons took control with three runs in the third. Two more in the fifth and another in the eighth set the margin at 7-2. State scored one in the ninth to narrow the final score to 7-3.

Turner came a triple away from the cycle, going 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. His lead-off homer was his second of the year after previously leading off the Pack's April 25 win over Charlotte with a roundtripper.

Danny Canela went 2-for-4 on the night with a double in the eighth. Ryan Mathews drove in one in a 1-for-4 performance, his 22nd game with a hit in the Wolfpack's last 23. Andrew Ciencin scored once and went 1-for-3 with a walk. Brett Austin had State's other hit, a single in the ninth.

Starter Anthony Tzamtzis (5-5) suffered the loss after lasting 2 1/3, allowing three earned on two hits and three walks. D.J. Thomas relieved him and surrendered three earned on four hits over the next 2 1/3. Ryan Wilkins eventually stemmed the Wake Forest tide with 2 1/3 shutout innings, holding the Deacs to one hit.

Wake starter Jack Fischer (5-4) won on three earned over eight innings, scattering eight Wolfpack hits and striking out five. Reliever John McLeod induced a double play in the ninth from the only batter he faced. Michael Dimock struck out the last batter of the game to seal the win.

NC State drops to 1-1 in ACC Tournament play, and awaits the result of Miami and Wake's game Friday night at 7 p.m. to keep its championship hopes alive.

Turner started the Wolfpack off by sending the first pitch of the game over the wall in left center. The lead-off homer marked the fourth of the year for Turner, his second time starting a game with a home run.

Wake tied the game 1-1, but left the bases full in the second. Carlos Lopez was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Charlie Morgan singled through the right side to put two on with nobody out. After a fly out, Ciencin started a double play on a one-hopper to first, but Kevin Jordan's speed made it a fielder's choice.  Brett Armour used the extra out to hit an RBI single to left, tying the game. A walk loaded the bases, but Tzamtzis escaped by inducing a pop up to second.

State inched ahead 2-1 in the third on Mathews's RBI single. Turner led off the inning by smashing a single off of the pitcher's leg, sending it ricocheting between first and second. Canela hit a one-out single to move Turner to third, allowing Mathews to bring in the go-ahead run with a single smoked by the third baseman. Fischer struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning

The Deacs came back with three runs in the bottom of the third to make it 4-2. Conor Keniry led off with a walk. After a fly ball notched the first out, three wild pitches during the next at-bat brough Keniry all the way around to score. Lopez walked on the third wild pitch, chasing Tzamtzis from the game. Thomas struck out the first batter he faced, but gave up an infield single to Mark Rhine on a chopper to short. Grant Shambley pinch hit next, and turned on an 0-2 pitch. Senay charged to make a dive on the liner, but couldn't make the play. Two runs came home as the ball raced toward the wall, but a relay from Jake Fincher to Chris Diaz to Turner got Shambley at third to end the inning.

Wake Forest padded its lead to 6-2 in the fifth. Mac Williamson started the rally with a one-out single to center, then advanced to second on a passed ball with two away. Morgan hit an RBI single to center next. The throw home had Williamson beaten, but it missed the mark to allow the run and help Morgan to second. Thomas left after the RBI, and Dillon Frye walked a pair to load the bases. A wild pitch scored the sixth run, before Wilkins entered to strike out the first batter he faced swinging.

The Deacons loaded the bases in the eighth, but only mustered one more to extend the lead to 7-2. Rhine singled and Shambley was hit by a pitch to put two on. Armour laid down a sac bunt, but an attempt to get the lead runner was late, loading the bases. Evan Stephens hit a sac fly to center, scoring the run, but Fincher gunned down the runner heading for third for a double play.

State started to rally in the ninth, but a crucial double play ended the threat. Ciencin led off with a walk, and Austin singled to left center to put runners on the corners. A grounder to short helped Wake turn two, but allowed Ciencin to score to trim the lead to 7-3. Dimock struck out the next batter to end the game.
 
NC State rests on Friday before returning to action Saturday night at 7 p.m. against North Carolina for a game televised on RSN and streaming on ESPN3. Radio coverage will be provided by 88.1 WKNC, fans can follow Twitter updates from @NCStateBaseball, and live stats will be available at GoPack.com.