The N.C. State baseball team advanced to its second consecutive Super Regional in the NCAA tournament Sunday night following a 9-2 win over William & Mary at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The Wolfpack (47-14) was lifted to victory by the Raleigh Regional’s Most Outstanding Player, senior first baseman Tarran Senay, who went 2-for-5 during the game with 5 RBI, including a three-run blast over the right field wall in the first inning, giving the Pack an early 3-0 advantage over the Tribe.
Senay put the game away for the Wolfpack in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run double, giving State a 9-2 lead. He was 5-for-11 overall in the regional with two home runs, seven runs batted in and two runs scored.
The night’s performance was oddly similar to his numbers in last year’s Raleigh Regional championship game in which he hit a home run and had 5 RBI.
Sophomore right fielder and All-Region selection Jake Fincher went 3-for-5 on the night with a run and an RBI. Sophomore second baseman Logan Ratledge, another All-Region performer from the Wolfpack, went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
Other All-Region selections from N.C. State include sophomore shortstop Trea Turner, senior third baseman Grant Clyde and sophomore pitcher Carlos Rodon.
Freshman pitcher Brad Stone (3-2) earned the start for the Wolfpack Sunday night and did not disappoint the crowd of 2,752 on hand in Raleigh. Stone allowed just four hits and striking out three in 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
N.C. State pitching was stellar throughout the weekend, allowing just three runs, the fewest the Pack has ever allowed in 26 NCAA Regional appearances. Prior to Willam & Mary’s first run, Wolfpack pitchers had not allowed a run in 22 2/3 innings. Additionally, the Pack’s pitching crew did not allow a walk during the final two games of the Regional. State pitchers issued two walks while striking out 25 batters over the course of the weekend.
William & Mary starter Matt Wainman (4-4) picked up the loss for the Tribe, allowing six runs, five earned, on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
The Wolfpack will face the winner of the Eugene Regional. Rice and Oregon will face off Monday night at 9 p.m. to decide the Regional winner. If Oregon wins, the Wolfpack will travel to Eugene, Ore. for the Super Regional. Alternatively, the Owls will visit Raleigh if Rice wins.