The NC State baseball team split a doubleheader with Boston College Saturday at Doak Field, wrapping up a series victory in its first weekend of ACC baseball.
The Wolfpack (13-3, 2-1 ACC) mounted a comeback to win the opener 13-7, powered by shortstop Will Wilson, who went 4 for 5 with three runs scored, and senior first baseman Shane Shepard, who launched a two-run homer. The Eagles (6-8, 1-2 ACC) blew the Pack out, 11-3, in the second matchup of the day to salvage a win from the series.
After NC State won a 2-1 pitcher’s duel Friday, it was the bats that were on full display Saturday. Graduate right-handed pitcher Johnny Piedmonte (2-0, 4.58 ERA) started on the mound for the Pack, but was pulled after just 1.2 innings and three earned runs. The Eagles started Dan Metzdorf, who was credited with the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits in just three innings.
BC jumped ahead to a 3-0 lead through the first two innings, collecting each run on a sacrifice groundout. Shepard pulled the Pack within one with his home run in the second inning. NC State piled on the next few innings, pulling ahead 8-3 after four innings. The Pack and Eagles added some late runs, to bring the final score to 13-7.
Along with Wilson and Shepard, sophomore designated hitter Brad Debo went 3 for 6 with two runs scored and freshman second baseman J.T. Jarrett batted 3 for 5 with two runs. Freshman lefty Nick Swiney (2-0, 1.23 ERA) collected the win, throwing three innings without allowing an earned run. Sophomore lefty Kent Klyman (1-0, 0.00 ERA) picked up a two-inning save.
In the second game, NC State freshman lefty David Harrison (0-2, 9.62 ERA) struggled on the mound. Harrison allowed eight earned runs and six hits in just 2.1 innings pitched. The Wolfpack would be forced to use eight different pitchers, including junior left fielder Brett Kinneman for the second time this season, to finish out the game.
Boston College’s Brian Rapp (2-1, 3.22 ERA) was fantastic on the mound for the Eagles, hurling seven scoreless innings and allowing just two hits to pick up the win. Offensively for BC, four different players had multi-hit games, led by designated hitter Scott Braren’s 3-for-5 performance.
The Wolfpack did muster three late runs, as Kinneman hit his NCAA-leading ninth home run of the season and Debo sent one over the fence for the first time this season.
NC State will host UNC-Asheville twice this week, before heading to Clemson next weekend to take on the mighty Tigers in another ACC series.
