NC State Newsstand: Pack baseball takes series vs. No. 9 Duke
After a rough week where NC State baseball dropped four straight games and fell out of the national rankings, the Wolfpack rebounded in a major way. The red and white beat No. 16 Coastal Carolina in the midweek before taking two of three from No. 9 Duke over the weekend.
NC State’s weekend series victory allowed it to re-enter D1 Baseball’s top-25 rankings at No. 22 this week.
The Wolfpack opened the series with the Blue Devils with a 4-3 comeback win Friday afternoon at Doak Field.
In what ended up being a pitcher’s duel for most of the game, NC State’s Sam Highfill impressed on the rubber. He went seven innings and allowed just three runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. Highfill also conceded one walk as he tossed 117 pitches, the second-most of his NC State career.
While Highfill was dealing, the Pack had contributions from multiple players in the lineup. Josh Hogue, Garrett Pennington, Jacob Cozart and Luke Nixon all logged one RBI each to lead the Pack past the Blue Devils, which led 1-0 before NC State took control of the game in the fifth inning.
After the Wolfpack took game one, it appeared Duke was going to level the series — until the ninth inning rolled around. NC State used a six-run final frame in Saturday’s game to take the series in walk-off fashion, 9-8.
NC State entered the bottom of the ninth with an 8-3 hole before it cut the deficit to four with a Hogue fielder’s choice. After that, Pennington hit a three-run blast to make it a one-run game — his second homer in as many innings to propel the Pack right back into the contest.
Then, with two outs, Cozart singled to keep the game alive before Eli Serrano III hit a two-run walk-off blast down the right field line. That gave the Wolfpack the series win, its second of ACC play this season.
Pennington led the Wolfpack with four RBI, while Noah Soles and Serrano had two each in Saturday’s win.
The Wolfpack dropped Sunday’s game in a 13-2 defeat at home. NC State returns to action Tuesday at UNC-Greensboro for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Tweets of the day
Wolfpack women’s basketball hosts Tennessee for a right to play in the Sweet 16 today.
NC State men’s basketball’s opponent is set for the Sweet 16 in Dallas.
Wolfpack gymnastics will find out its NCAA destination today.
Quote of the day
Pack men’s basketball is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. How did they get to this point? Coach Kevin Keatts explains.
“I just think we’ve come together,” Keatts said. “Like we’ve been a good team all year long. We just hadn’t stacked games. We hadn’t stacked opportunities. … I think one of the biggest things is that we believe and trust in one another. If you’re not having a good night, then you gotta trust your brother beside you and I think that’s one of the things that we’ve matured in.”
Today’s top headlines
NC State continues NCAA Tournament run by believing in itself
NC State’s scouting report on Tennessee, as told by the Pack
