The NC State baseball team closed out its weekend in Chapel Hill with a win against No. 22 North Carolina after dropping the first two games of the series.
The Wolfpack (20-14, 8-9 ACC) received strong performances from al its pitchers, yet struggled offensively on the weekend until the final game of the series, when the team finally found consistent success against Tar Heel (22-14, 9-9 ACC) pitchers.
The Wolfpack fell victim to a stellar pitching performance from UNC-Chapel Hill sophomore pitcher Zac Gallen Friday night. The right-hander pitched a complete game, allowing only a single unearned run while adding five strikeouts in the Heels’ 2-1 win. The Pack’s lone run occurred thanks to a throwing error by the Carolina third baseman.
The Tar Heels opened the scoring in the third inning when sophomore right fielder Tyler Ramirez singled the first pitch he saw to left field, driving in the runner from second.
NC State’s pitchers were solid in their own right, allowing only three hits and keeping the Wolfpack in the game, ultimately giving the offense an opportunity to win it.
In the seventh inning, junior center fielder Skye Bolt hit a game-winning home run to right center field.
Saturday night, NC State scored first in the fourth inning when Ratledge blasted a 1-1 pitch to left field, giving the Pack a 1-0 lead.
Carolina answered quickly in the bottom of the fourth inning when Carolina freshman Zack Gahagan hit a ball that took a wild hop right before reaching State third baseman Joe Dunand, allowing him to reach first base safely. After a wild pitch allowed the runner to move to second, Tar Heel sophomore first baseman Joe Dudek hit a single up the middle, driving home the runner to tie the game 1-1.
The Pack retook the lead in the fifth inning when freshman designated hitter Shane Shepard hit his first career home run into the trees behind the right field wall.
Once again, Carolina immediately fought back when an inaccurate throw by Wolfpack third baseman Dunand lifted sophomore Preston Palmeiro off first base, allowing the batter to reach safely with no outs in the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second with only one out. The Tar Heels would later tie the game when sophomore Skye Bolt drove an RBI single to center field, scoring the runner from second.
The top of the 10th inning saw a controversial call go against the Pack when Dunand was hit by a pitch. The umpire ruled that Dunand leaned into the pitch and called him back into the batter’s box. Instead of having a runner on first with no outs, Dunand later flied out and the Pack failed to produce offense.
“I didn’t really get one [explanation],” Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent said. “He said he thought he stuck his elbow out. From what I saw, the pitch was in his batter’s box.”
Three straight walks loaded the bases with no outs in the tenth, when UNC-CH freshman third baseman Zack Gahagan was hit by a pitch, sending a runner home, giving Carolina a 3-2 win over State.
On Sunday, NC State took an early lead in the third inning when a bases loaded walk to Palmeiro scored a run.
Carolina battled back in its half of the third, registering two RBI singles to give the Heels a 2-1 lead.
Just as Carolina had done, the Pack responded in a hurry in the fourth inning. Dunand hit a double to left field, scoring Willard from first to tie the game.
The Pack wasn’t done as they continued the damage in the fifth inning. Palmeiro hit a single through the right side, scoring Fincher and allowing Ratledge to move to third with no outs. Knizner would then drive in a run of his own on a fielder’s choice, giving State a 4-2 lead.
After the Heels scored a run in the seventh, the Wolfpack headed to the ninth with a one-run lead and looking to add insurance.
They would get exactly that, as a double and sac fly added two more. The Tar Heels couldn’t respond this time and the Pack won the series finale, 6-3.
Despite dropping the series, the Pack has played good ball lately and the effort is there.
“When your team plays with heart and guts, as a coach your job is pretty much over,” Avent said. “I’ve never been more proud of a ball club.”
