No matter the score, one inning can change a baseball game in a hurry.
Down 8-5 in the top of the eighth, NC State baseball appeared to be down and out. Then a 10-run inning by the Wolfpack saved the season. Ultimately the Wolfpack hung on for a 17-12 victory, knocking out Stetson and advancing to the regional final against Auburn.
Extracting revenge on the Hatters (41-22), the Wolfpack (35-20) needed every run it scored in a barn burner. The 10-run explosion began with a trio of singles and a walk to score a run. Freshman third baseman Ryder Woodson then broke the game up with his first career grand slam — the third home run of the weekend for Woodson. The freshman is breaking out at a time when NC State needs it the most, sparking back to back wins to extend the season.
The Pack wasn’t done after Woodson’s grand slam, scoring five more runs in the eighth. As the inning continued, Stetson crumbled in the field and began to make errors. Meanwhile, the Hatters burned through several pitchers, but could not stop the bleeding till it was too late. The Hatters attempted to rally late with four runs of their own, but never fully recovered from the Pack’s eighth inning outburst.
The Pack’s improbable comeback was preceded by plenty of scoring by both sides. The Hatters struck first with a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Starting pitcher Heath Andrews got off to a rocky start. The Hatters loaded up the bases almost immediately, then scored thanks to a balk. Andrews temporarily recovered and escaped the inning with no further damage.
The Wolfpack quickly punched back with a trio of runs in the second inning. NC State rattled off four straight hits to open the inning. With a pair of runners on, sophomore second baseman Luke Nixon laid down a perfect bunt to advance the runners. An errant throw over the first baseman’s head allowed all runners to advance an extra base and score a run. Freshman designated hitter Brandon Novy cleaned up with a left field double to drive a pair of runs in and put the Pack up 3-1.
Andrews found himself in trouble again in the third inning, starting the frame by hitting Stetson’s Isaiah Barkett with a pitch. Smelling blood in the water, the Hatters racked up three quick hits for a pair of runs. However, with momentum shifting towards the Hatters, junior right fielder Brayden Fraasman snatched momentum back in the next inning. With a perfect swing, Fraasman sent a home run over the ‘Green Monster’ for a solo shot to set the score at 4-3 in favor of the red-and-white.
Looking to steady the ship on the mound, head coach Elliott Avent pulled Andrews in favor of sophomore reliever Jacob Dudan. Generally at his best in high pressure spots, things turned disastrous for the Wolfpack. The Hatters figured out Dudan’s slider quickly and racked up four runs in the fifth inning, jumping ahead 7-4. Lasting just 21 pitches, Stetson hammered Dudan and forced the Wolfpack star out of the game.
Junior pitcher Andrew Shaffner took over for Dudan on the mound and began to stabilize things. The Hatters’ flow of runs continued, but slowed significantly with Shaffner on the mound. From there, the Pack’s bats turned in a magical performance and powered NC State’s comeback victory.
The Wolfpack is now halfway through the regional, winning two of the four games needed to advance to the Super Regionals. NC State now needs to win two in a row against Auburn to win the Auburn Regional. It will be a tall task, especially given Auburn’s impressive 27-6 record at Plainsman Park.
NC State will face a quick turnaround, playing Auburn later tonight at Plainsman Park.
