When the lights were brightest, NC State baseball delivered.
Entering hostile territory in Tallahassee, NC State earned a 6-4 victory over Florida State.
The Wolfpack (18-4, 3-1 ACC) started slow but found its rhythm late, scoring three runs in the sixth inning to go up for good. The Seminoles (17-4, 3-1 ACC) meanwhile faded down the stretch, failing to score in the final four innings.
The Wolfpack started its monstrous sixth inning down 4-3. Earning three straight hits, the Pack knocked FSU pitcher Wes Mendes out of the game as sophomore center fielder Ty Head drove in the tying run with a single.
Freshman left fielder Rett Johnson quickly made the Noles new reliever, John Abraham, pay with a two-RBI double. Slamming the double to center field, the Wolfpack earned all the momentum as two runners raced into home giving the Wolfpack a 6-4 advantage.
Sophomore pitcher Anderson Nance maintained NC State’s lead with three scoreless and picked up the save. Only allowing one hit while striking out five Seminoles, Nance’s performance was one of his best yet and it came against the Pack’s toughest opponent of the season. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Nance’s impressive freshman campaign wasn’t a fluke —- he remains money as a sophomore and is the Wolfpack’s best in the bullpen.
The Wolfpack also enjoyed a strong six inning start from junior pitcher Ryan Marohn. NC State’s Friday night ace shoved all evening and racked up 10 strikeouts. While Marohn did allow four runs, his performance was good enough against one of the better lineups the Pack will see in ACC play.
At the plate, NC State found some much needed consistency in the lineup. The Wolfpack started the year on fire before suffering a few cold days at the plate in non conference play. Against the Noles however, three batters earned multiple hits and every starter earned at least one hit or walk.
Johnson proved to be especially effective against FSU. The freshman hit a pair of doubles including the two-run clincher in the sixth inning. Johnson also never struck out, giving himself a chance to get on base with his patient approach at the plate.
Sophomore designated hitter Dalton Bargo also batted in a run. With two outs, Bargo made sure the Pack didn’t waste an opportunity to score with a man on base. Smacking the ball deep into the outfield, Bargo drove in the Pack’s first run of the day and set the tone early.
While the Wolfpack played great baseball, things nearly slipped away in the fifth inning. Florida State’s Myles Bailey blasted a three-run homer over the left field wall. The play was one of Marohn’s few mistakes of the day by leaving an easy pitch over the plate for Bailey. Marohn bounced back however and finished the fifth and sixth innings without surrendering any more runs before Nance took over and sealed the win.
Next up, the Wolfpack will look to clinch the series against the Seminoles on Saturday March 21 at 2 p.m. before closing the weekend on Sunday at 1 p.m.
