NC State
31-16, 0
North Carolina
31-17, 0
Wolfpack Falls 9-8 in Series Opener at North Carolina
5/11/2023 10:52:00 PM | Baseball
In the top of the first inning, NC State scored five runs for its most runs scored in the first inning against North Carolina since at least 1999.
LuJames Groover III and Jacob Cozart drew back-to-back walks before Cannon Peebles launched a three-run home run to right field to put the Pack in front in the first. Payton Green recorded a two-RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Will Marcy and Trevor Candelaria to make it 5-0 Pack after the first.
North Carolina cut into the lead in the third with four runs in the frame. Baker Nelson came into relief to induce a flyout to end the threat.
The Pack responded in the fourth after back-to-back singles from Kalae Harrison and Noah Soles before Cozart singled to right field to score Harrison.
Harrison extended the lead in the fifth with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field. North Carolina threatened in the bottom half with a run on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to trim the Pack's lead to 7-5. Dominic Fritton entered with the bases loaded and one out to record a three-pitch strikeout and a popout to first to get out of the jam.
In the seventh, the Pack stretched its lead with an RBI single from Harrison to score Eli Serrano III. Fritton posted back-to-back scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, facing eight batters and capping off the seventh with his fourth strikeout.
The Tar Heels trimmed the lead to one in the eighth, posting two runs on two hits. With the go-ahead run at the plate, Fritton induced a flyout to center to end the inning.
North Carolina walked it off in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on third. After tying the game at 8-8, Colby Wilkerson recorded a bunt single to secure the win. Hunter Stokely led off the inning with a four-pitch walk and pinch runner Reece Holbrook scored on a game-tying triple from Eric Grintz.
UP NEXT
NC State looks to even the series against North Carolina on Friday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ACC Network.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matt Poston (3-2)
L: Fritton, Dominic (3-4)
Batting:
2B: Marcy, Will 1 ; Nolan, Parker 1 ; Candelaria, Trevor 1 ; Green, Payton 1
HR: Peebles, Cannon 1
RBI: Cozart, Jacob 1 ; Peebles, Cannon 3 ; Green, Payton 2 ; Harrison, Kalae 2
SF: Harrison, Kalae 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Groover III, LuJames 1 ; Cozart, Jacob 1 ; Peebles, Cannon 1 ; Marcy, Will 1 ; Nolan, Parker 1 ; Candelaria, Trevor 1 ; Serrano III, Eli 1 ; Harrison, Kalae 1
Batting:
2B: Casey Cook 2 ; Jackson Van De Brake 1 ; Vance Honeycutt 1 ; Tomas Frick 2
3B: Eric Grintz 1
RBI: Jackson Van De Brake 2 ; Vance Honeycutt 3 ; Tomas Frick 1 ; Johnny Castagnozzi 1 ; Eric Grintz 1 ; Colby Wilkerson 1
SH: Johnny Castagnozzi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Casey Cook 2 ; Jackson Van De Brake 1 ; Vance Honeycutt 1 ; Mac Horvath 1 ; Reece Holbrook 1 ; Alberto Osuna 1 ; Carter French 1 ; Colby Wilkerson 1
HBP: Johnny Castagnozzi 1
