Although No. 13 NC State’s game against No. 2 Miami (FL) meant nothing for the Pack’s ACC Championship hopes, the Wolfpack fought to the bitter end in a dramatic 8-7 loss to the Hurricanes in Durham on Thursday night.
Trailing 7-5 in the top of the ninth, Miami junior third baseman Edgar Michelangeli blasted a three-run, game-winning home run off Wolfpack sophomore closer Tommy DeJuneas.
The big hit came just one inning after Wolfpack senior catcher Chance Shepard seemingly put the Wolfpack up for good with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eigth inning, in what appeared to be a fatal blow to the Hurricanes in the late innings for the second-straight year.
“I was just trying to find something I could handle right there and step up for our team,” Shepard said. “Miami’s a great team; obviously they did what they did. We gotta just accept it.”
The Wolfpack put two runners on base with singles from sophomores, third baseman Evan Mendoza and shortstop Joe Dunand, in the ninth inning, but Miami closer Bryan Garcia was able to shut the door without anyone scoring.
The Wolfpack started junior lefthander Sean Adler, making his first start since freshman year, who lasted two and a third innings and issued six walks and two wild pitches, but was able to avoid any significant damage. His replacement, sophomore righthander Evan Braband, promptly served up a two-run home run to Hurricane shortstop Brandon Lopez, giving Miami a 2-0 lead.
Brabrand and senior lefthander Travis Orwig were able to shut down the Hurricanes through the fourth, giving the Wolfpack offense the chance they needed to take control of the game.
With the heart of the order coming to the plate in the fourth inning, the Wolfpack broke open the scoring by….bunting. After junior first baseman Preston Palmeiro doubled to lead off the inning and sophomore Joe Dunand singled to put runners on first and third with no outs, sophomore right fielder Brock Deatherage drag bunted up the first base line, scoring Palmeiro and earning himself a single.
Junior catcher Andrew Knizner followed suit, placing a perfect bunt single up the third base line to load the bases. Freshman left fielder Brett Kinneman brought home Dunand for the second run with a single into right field before senior catcher Chance Shepard gave the Pack the lead with a two-RBI double to right-center field. An RBI groundout capped off the inning, leaving the Pack with a 5-2 lead.
The Hurricanes struck back in the 5th inning, scoring two runs to bring the score to 5-4.
NC State reliever Cody Beckman kept the Hurricanes at bay for two and a third innings, but gave up the lead with one out in the eighth on an RBI bunt single by junior first baseman Christopher Barr.
The Wolfpack used six pitchers in total in the game, with only freshman right hander Austin Staley emerging without giving up a run.
“We’re short a couple arms right now,” Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent said. “We’ll keep battling through like we have been the last couple weeks.”
Sitting with a 0-2 record in group play, the Wolfpack have no chance of appearing in the ACC Championship Game. Friday night’s game against Georgia Tech will be for resume building in the hopes that hosting a regional is still in NC State’s future.
Avent still believes the Wolfpack are in position to host a regional, even after the Pack’s recent 2-6 stretch.
“I think we’re hosting anyway,” Avent said. “Every game you win I think helps us. I assume the committee’s watching us, and I don’t think it’s about exactly the win. You watch this game, Miami might not only be the best team in the country but the best team I’ve seen since I’ve been at NC State.”
Although a good stretch in the ACC Tournament would’ve greatly increased the Pack’s chances of hosting, that decision will be left to the selection committee. The only thing still in the Pack’s control will be Friday night’s result, a game that will undoubtedly be as drama-filled and tense as the ones that came before.
