They had to have it. They got it.
The No. 17 NC State baseball team forced a winner-take-all game Monday at 6 p.m., to determine the winner of the Raleigh Regional, by defeating No. 15 Coastal Carolina in Raleigh, 8-1, in a must-win game.
Senior lefthander Will Gilbert (5-1, 2.08 ERA) answered the biggest question surrounding the Wolfpack (38-21) coming into the game by pitching lights out, shutting down a talented Chanticleers’ (46-16) lineup, while for the second game in a row NC State flexed its offensive prowess.
“We have all the faith in the world in [Gilbert],” NC State associate coach Chris Hart said. “He came out and did what he always does. He just did it for a lot longer period, than he normally does it.”
Due to having a shorthanded pitching staff because of injuries plus already having used relievers lately, and with few options to turn to, the Pack sent junior starter Ryan Williamson, who has a torn UCL (can’t injure it further) and needs Tommy John surgery, to the mound.
Williamson struggled in his one inning of work as he clearly wasn’t himself. Knowing the bullpen situation, Gilbert stepped up and pitched one of the greatest games of his career, throwing for a career-high eight innings, at a time the Wolfpack needed it the most.
“[Saving arms] was the plan pretty much going into yesterday’s game and today’s game,” Gilbert said. “Trying to throw as few guys as possible so we can have a whole bullpen and good staff for tonight’s game.”
On top of Gilbert’s great stuff, he was assisted by his defense which turned six double plays and didn’t commit a single error in the game.
The game and atmosphere at Doak Field shifted in the bottom of the third when Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. What ensued was a period of Avent getting in the faces of the umpires, letting them know his opinion on the situation.
The ejection appeared to give the team some juice as it came out in the top of the fourth firing on all cylinders offensively, and perhaps letting out some frustration on the ball in the process of scoring six runs.
“Our offense came out to play today,” Gilbert said. “Especially in that next inning (after the ejection). I think that was a big momentum boost when coach Avent fired us up a little bit.”
The rally began while already leading, 1-0, when sophomore right fielder Brock Deatherage hit a two-run home run to left-center field. The Pack continued the scoring with a series of clutch, two-out at-bats with a runner on second. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for sophomore third baseman Evan Mendoza, who doubled to left field, driving in two runs. Junior first baseman Preston Palmeiro followed up with a single to right field, pushing two more across the plate, and giving the Wolfpack a 7-0 lead.
The Pack added another run in the sixth inning when sophomore second baseman Stephen Pitarra hit one to the Chanticleers’ pitcher, who couldn’t grab it cleanly, allowing Pitarra to reach first while senior designated hitter Chance Shepard scurried home from third.
Coastal Carolina finally got on the board in the seventh inning when junior designated hitter G.K. Young belted one over the wall in right center field – his 16th home run of the year.
Head Coach Elliott Avent gets right up in the face of the umpire after being thrown out of the game in the third inning of the Wolfpack's fourth game of the NCAA Raleigh Regional against Coastal Carolina on June 6, 2016. Avent was ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes and now faces a two game suspension effective immediately. The Wolfpack routed the Chanticleers 8-1 at Doak Field to force a winner take all game.
