The No. 3 NC State Wolfpack baseball needed another comeback win to defeat the UNC-Greensboro Spartans 8-4 Tuesday night at Doak Field.
The Wolfpack (6-2) defeated the Spartans (6-2) due in large part to a six-run eighth inning which was capped off by senior catcher Chance Shepard’s fourth home run in just as many games. head coach Elliott Avent was very proud of his team’s resolve to get the win.
“I’m just really proud of this ball club,” Avent said. “A couple calls didn’t go our way that I thought should’ve, but I’m very proud of our guys to overcome that adversity to get the win.”
The scoring started in the bottom of the first inning when Spartans pitcher Jake Lewis walked sophomore shortstop Joe Dunand with the bases loaded to advance sophomore centerfielder Josh McClain home for the first run of the game. The inning ended on a popup and a groundout to third to the Wolfpack up 1-0.
The Wolfpack extended its lead following a wild pitch from Lewis, allowing senior third baseman Ryne Willard to score from third base in the bottom of the second. The next two batters grounded out to end the inning with NC State on top 2-0.
Following a one-out double from Dunand and a walk by sophomore leftfielder Shane Shepard, Lewis’ day ended and Zach Kuchmaner took over in the bottom of the third. Kuchmaner struck out Willard and popped out sophomore rightfielder Brock Deatherage to end the inning without allowing a run.
The momentum of the game seemed to change early in the inning on two-out bases loaded hit that was ruled foul. The ball appeared to be on the inside of the third baseline. Avent mentioned that his players didn’t seem to register the importance of the situation.
“I don’t think they grasped the relevance of who was in the game,” Avent said. “Just still a lot of things we gotta correct, but it’s just seven games.”
The Wolfpack loaded the bases for the third time during the game but failed to get anything going offensively out of it, as the fourth inning ended on a double play, with the Wolfpack still on top 2-0.
In the fifth inning, Wilder was replaced by sophomore reliever Travis Orwig. Orwig gave up a run with two outs but settled in and got out of the fifth inning with the Wolfpack holding on to a 2-1 lead.
Orwig got the hook in the bottom of the sixth and be replaced by freshman Austin Staley. Staley pitched two-thirds of an inning and was replaced by junior Sean Adler, who threw one and one-third innings.
Staley got the hook after giving up a ground rule double to put two Spartans in scoring position. Staley was replaced by sophomore Tommy DeJuneas in the bottom of the eighth inning to nurse the one-run lead.
DeJuneas allowed a fielder’s choice, and two two-out singles in the eight resulting in three runs for the Spartans to give them a 4-2 with the bottom of the frame on the way.
The Wolfpack loaded the bases for the fourth time and finally delivered with a hit by McClain to right field to put the Wolfpack within one. Following an out by junior Preston Palmeiro, the Wolfpack would retake the lead on a throwing error by the Spartans. DeJuneas was surprised by the throwing error by the Spartans.
“I was surprised,” DeJuneas said. “It was a really big play in the game, and it helped us get back in the game and get the bats going.”
Chance Shepard concluded the scoring with moonshot to centerfield for to score three more runs, his fourth home run in just as many games. Shepard mentioned the throwing error was a chance for him to refocus and get mentally ready for the at bat.
“I had time to talk to Coach Hart after the wild throw to first against Knizner,” Shepard said. “They had been throwing offspeed pitches to me all day so that’s what I was looking for on the at bat.
The Wolfpack also went 3 of 5 with RISP in the eighth after hitting 1 of 9 with runners in scoring position through the first seven innings. For DeJuneas, the offense explosion was a huge confidence boost after his performance in the top of the eighth.
“It gave me a lot of confidence,” DeJuneas said. “After seeing those guys swinging the bats it gave me a huge confidence boost.”
DeJuneas finished out the ninth inning to put the Spartans away, securing a 8-4 win for NC State.
The Wolfpack has a quick turn-around with a game against undefeated UNC-Wilmington Seahawks Wednesday, with either junior Ryan Williamson or redshirt junior Karl Keglovits projected to get the start for NC State.
