Despite a strong outing by starting sophomore lefty Brian Brown, the No. 13 NC State Wolfpack baseball team fell in extra innings to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8-4.
The Wolfpack (15-6, 2-3 ACC) came into the game fresh off a win against the Irish (8-9, 1-4 ACC) behind 9-1 victory on Friday, during which sophomore Joe O’Donnell pitched a complete game.
During Saturday’s game against the Irish, Brown set a career-high 13 strikeouts through five and two-third innings. His previous high of 10 was set during the team’s matchup against the Irish during the ACC Tournament last May. Despite having 23 Ks in his last two games against the Irish, Brown didn’t put too much into the two games.
“I don’t think I’m in a zone when I play them,” Brown said. “I had my good stuff today and they were swinging and missing on a lot of my balls today and that was it.”
The Wolfpack also hit the ball extremely well during the game, registering 16 hits through 12 innings of play. The Wolfpack had seven of its nine starters have multiple hits in the game, including three hits each from sophomores Josh McLain and Stephen Pitarra.
Despite the strong hitting and starting pitching during Saturday’s game, head coach Elliott Avent isn’t entirely convinced that the team is playing to its full potential.
“You should never win a ball game when you are giving up 10 walks in a game,” Avent said. “I’m still convinced that we are not playing to win.”
The first three innings of the game were a pitchers’ duel as both Brown and Irish sophomore lefty Sean Guenther combined for two walks, three hits and nine strikeouts through those three innings.
The Wolfpack’s only four runs of the game came when junior Preston Palmeiro, sophomore Brock Deatherage and sophomore Shane Shepard combine for four RBIs in the fourth inning. After four innings of play, the Wolfpack gave Brown a comfortable 4-0 lead going into the fifth inning.
Brown left in with one out in the sixth inning to finish with a final stat line of five and two-third innings, 13 strikeouts, two walks and six hits. Following an out by freshman reliever Austin Staley, the Wolfpack held on to a 4-2 lead.
The momentum of the game changed after sophomore Tommy DeJuneas came into the top of the eighth for a four-out save. After allowing junior second baseman Cavan Biggio to score, DeJuneas surrendered a ground-rule double, allowing junior Torii Hunter Jr. to tie the game at four.
Brown was mildly disappointed with the way the game transpired after he was taken out of the game.
“It was tough,” Brown said. “But even though it was a tough one, we will find our ways to win.”
The game got away from the Wolfpack in the top of the 12th inning after reliever Sean Adler walked three batters to load the bases with two outs left in the inning.
Following the walks, Irish senior Zak Kutsulis hit a single and reached second on a throwing error to clear the bases. The Irish tacked on another run to seal the 8-4 victory for the Irish.
Adler and DeJuneas combined for six of the Wolfpacks eight runs allowed for the game and six of the team’s 10 walks on the afternoon.
The Wolfpack will be back in action Sunday for the rubber game against the Irish at noon with redshirt junior Johnny Piedmonte projected to get the start for the Pack.
