NC State Baseball, after suffering blowout losses in the previous two games, rallied with two runs in the top of the eighth to tie it, then added two runs in the top of the tenth to secure its only win of the three-game series.
The Wolfpack, (26-14, ACC 9-9) finally found its rhythm in its third match-up against Wake Forest (27-14, ACC 11-10), grinding out a 6-5 victory in extra innings. The Pack was down by two runs in the eighth, but delivered two game-tying runs to stay alive. The defense came on to only allow one run in the extra inning, sealing the win.
In the top of the tenth, senior third baseman Wyatt Peifer bunted a single, allowing sophomore outfielder Ty Head to make it home from second after a throwing error from Wake Forest. Then, freshman catcher Vincent DeCarlo grounded a ball to third, leaving just enough time for the Deacons to tag him out at first. Although he was tagged out, he collected an RBI from sophomore shortstop Mikey Ryan, to add two runs to their previous four.
Head was a major piece for NC State in tying the game at the top of the eighth. At bat, he sent the ball to third to bring home freshman outfielder Rett Johnson, and made it to first base. After stealing second, Head waited for an opportunity, which came when junior infielder Sherman Johnson smacked the ball into left field. Head sprinted home from second and tied the game at four.
Wolfpack sophomore righty Anderson Nance closed out the final inning, only allowing a single to center field, and held the Deacons to a single run from infielder Luke Costello, putting the game to an end.
Keeping the Pack to only one run across six innings, Wake Forest looked to build its lead. In the third, first baseman Kade Lewis launched his eighth homer of the season to put the Deacons in front. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, freshman shortstop JD Stein stepped up and drove a 354-foot hit over the fence to double the lead.
In the opening frame, Head singled to short, collected an RBI, and brought home Johnson. Retaliating, Lewis sent the ball to left field, brought home two of his teammates, and left the Pack trailing 2-1.
NC State travels to Virginia for another three-game series to take on the Hokies on Friday, April 24, at 6 p.m.
