There were some scares along the way, but the NC State baseball team finally got a solid outing from its pitching staff. That, along with a huge double-play to end the top of the sixth and an explosion from the Pack offense in the bottom of the sixth gave the Pack a 6-1 win over the Wright State Raiders at Doak Field Saturday.
Sophomore starting pitcher Brian Brown threw 81 pitches in five innings for the Wolfpack (4-2), surrendering three hits and no earned runs. Brown got bailed out by his bullpen and defense in a crucial situation in the top of the sixth, however, as he was lifted following a walk and two fielding errors that loaded the bases for the Raiders (5-1) with nobody out and the Pack leading 2-1.
“Today was a pretty quality start from Brown,” head coach Elliott Avent said. “He’s just tough, he knows how to pitch.”
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Cody Beckham came in out of the bullpen and struck out the first batter he faced, setting up a huge 5-4-3 double play to end the inning, as Raiders’ senior third baseman John Brodner grounded out to Wolfpack sophomore third baseman Evan Mendoza, who flipped it to freshman second baseman Xavier LeGrant, who rifled a throw to junior first baseman Preston Palmeiro to secure the big double play.
The huge defensive stand set up an outpouring of offense for the Pack in the bottom of the sixth. The inning started with a double down the left-field line for sophomore shortstop Joe Dunand. After senior designated-hitter Chance Shepard, who went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, flied out to left field, LeGrant singled through the left side to advance Dunand to third.
Mendoza, who earned his first career hit and finished 3 of 4 with an RBI, then singled to right field to score Dunand and advance LeGrant to third, putting the Pack up 3-1.
“It was just play the game hard and try and have fun today,” Mendoza said. “I didn’t try to do too much at the plate today. I just tried to smile all day.”
Sophomore right fielder Brock Deatherage then reached on an error by Raiders sophomore first baseman Gabe Snyder as the ball went right through his legs, scoring LeGrant and advancing Mendoza.
Sophomore center fielder Josh McLain completed the big inning by smacking a double to left field, scoring both Deatherage and Mendoza for a 6-1 lead.
“You come back in the bottom of the inning and that’s where we got the runs,” Avent said. “That’s where we won.”
The game had started slowly for both offenses, with the Raiders getting on the board first off a Brodner RBI double in the top of the second. NC State quickly tied it up in the bottom of the second, as Shepard, the first batter of the inning absolutely crushed his first offering from junior starter Robby Sexton to center field for a solo home run. The Pack took the lead in the bottom of the third on Shepard’s second RBI, this one a single up the middle.
The game remained a pitcher’s duel until the sixth and decisive inning, after which the bullpen locked down the Wright State hitters to give the Pack the win and an opportunity at a rubber match on Sunday against the Raiders with a chance to earn a series win.
