Despite getting an early lead, the No. 13 NC State Wolfpack baseball team held off a late rally for a 7-3 win over the UNC-Charlotte 49ers Tuesday to sweep the season series.
Coming into the game, the Wolfpack (20-9, 5-5 ACC) was fresh off of a series win against the reigning ACC and NCAA champion Virginia Cavaliers, winning two of its three games against the Cavs. As for the Niners (13-17, 3-6 C-USA), they were in a slump, losing 8 of their last 13 games, including a 7-1 loss to the Wolfpack last week. For sophomore Brock Deatherage, it was a great feeling getting a win.
“We came out ready to play,” Deatherage said. “We had some big hits, and we played really well as a team defensively.”
Following a single and a steal from sophomore rightfielder Brock Deatherage with two outs in the first, junior catcher Andrew Knizner drilled a two out single to centerfield. Knizner’s single was deep enough to bring Deatherage home for the first run of the game. Sophomore shortstop Joe Dunand flied out to the warning track on the next at bat, ending the inning with the Wolfpack up 1-0.
After junior first baseman Preston Palmeiro was hit by a pitch to start the second, senior designated hitter Chance Shepard drilled a double to the left field corner, bringing home Palmeiro from first base. Shepard reached home from third base on a fielder’s choice by Evan Mendoza, and the Wolfpack ended the inning ahead 3-0.
In the third inning with two outs, Dunand hit a two-out double to bring home Deatherage from second base. Palmeiro struck out on the following at-bat to end the inning with the Wolfpack on top 4-0.
Junior starter Cory Wilder, who struggled in his first six appearances this season, pitched a masterful game for the Wolfpack. The junior tossed six-shutout innings, with two strikeouts and only for hits, keeping the Wolfpack ahead 4-0 through five and a half innings of play.
For head coach Elliott Avent, it was a great feeling watching Wilder throw six shutout innings after giving up 14 earned runs in his last 16 innings coming into the game.
“He wasn’t with us during the fall and during the summer,” Avent said. “It just takes time to figure it out. Today he was unbelievable.”
Following a walk by Palmeiro and a double by Shepard with no outs to start the bottom of the sixth, freshman left fielder Brett Kinneman grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring Palmeiro in. NC State’s next three batters were retired but still held onto a 5-0 lead going into the seventh inning.
Redshirt senior Kyle Smith relieved Wilder in the seventh but was pulled after allowing two hits and a run to end the team shutout. Freshman Austin Staley was brought in and struck out two to end the inning, preserving a 5-1 lead going into the stretch.
The Niners tried to make things interesting to start the top of the eighth inning. Sophomore Hunter Jones and freshman Reece Hampton both singled to put two runners on with no one out.
NC State brought in redshirt senior Chris Williams to stop the bleeding. After getting a strikeout, Williams gave up a two-out single, which brought home a runner to bring the Niners within two. Senior Will Gilbert came in and struck out the final batter, keeping the Wolfpack ahead 5-3.
The Wolfpack tried to regain control of the momentum in the bottom of the eighth. Following a strikeout by Palmeiro and a walk by Shepard, Kinneman and sophomore Evan Mendoza each drove in a run. The Wolfpack sealed the deal in the ninth, retiring the side to secure the 7-3 win.
The Wolfpack will get one day off before beginning a three-game series against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Wilder believes the team will have a lot of momentum to attempt to get the sweep.
“We feel good and they’re a good team,” Wilder said. “But we got ‘em at home, and we are a pretty good team at home.”
The Wolfpack will begin the series Friday and redshirt junior Johnny Piedmonte, sophomore Brian Brown and junior Ryan Williamson are expected to get the start for the three-game series.
