After taking the series opener, NC State baseball followed with a late collapse in Game 2. But it secured the series win in Game 3.
The Pack (16-4, 2-1 ACC) blew its lead late in Game 2, heading into the eighth with a 5-4 lead. But an eight run frame for the Eagles (11-8, 3-3 ACC) granted the Pack its first conference loss of the season. The Pack bounced back promptly, winning the rubber match 5-1.
Game 2
After holding Boston College to two runs on Friday, the Wolfpack conceded 12 as it suffered its biggest loss of the season yet. Junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Dudan stepped up to the mound for the Wolfpack and threw a solid first seven innings as the red-and-white entered the eighth up by one.
Head coach Elliott Avent then rested Dudan and brought in left-handed freshman pitcher Luke Hemric. Hemric walked a batter and was then called back to the bench as sophomore right-handed pitcher Collins Black made his way to the mound.
With runners on all bases and one strike out early in the eighth, the Wolfpack threw a wild pitch and conceded the first score of the inning. Boston College took advantage of its newly found momentum to hit a triple and a homerun with runners on first and second and enter the ninth leading 12-5. The Wolfpack’s efforts to come back were fruitless as no team scored again and the game ended with the red-and-white losing by seven.
Game 3
In Game 3, NC State broke the tie with Boston College as it won the third game of the series 5-1.
Right-handed junior pitcher Heath Andrews got the starting nod in the closing game of the Wolfpack’s first ACC series of the season against Boston College. Andrews, who had missed extended time due to personal reasons, pitched the first seven innings for the red-and-white, during which he gave up seven hits and a run, and recorded four strikeouts.
“I can never hit against [Andrews] so I get confused how anybody could ever hit against him and that’s just what he does,” junior infielder Chris McHugh said. “That’s legit stuff and that was really cool to see”.
Left-handed junior pitcher Cooper Consiglio started this game on the bench and took over the last two innings and kept the Eagles out of the game with three strike outs and only gave up one hit.
“I’m just ready to go whenever they want me, just do what I’m told, always available whenever I’m needed,” Consiglio said.
Tied at one entering the bottom of the fifth, two Boston College’ pitcher changes alongside a double from sophomore infielder Mikey Ryan with loaded bases helped the Wolfpack find life and pull away from the Eagles.
Despite three errors, NC State’s defense held Boston College to a single run, the lowest in the Wolfpack’s past nine games.
“I think errors, the team’s better than that, I know I can trust my defense as much as possible,” Andrews said.
The Wolfpack will kick-off its four-game road trip against UNCW (14-6) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday before travelling to Tallahassee for their second conference series of the season against No. 20 Florida State University (16-3, 3-0 ACC).
