The N.C. State baseball team (28-10, 11-7 ACC) held the UNC-Charlotte 49ers (22-14, 6-3 A-10) quiet through eight innings as the Wolfpack picked up the win in Charlotte, 2-1. With the win, State increased its winning streak to 11 games.
“It was a great win,” head coach Elliott Avent said. “Both teams played well in front of a great crowd.”
Senior pitcher Ethan Ogburn (3-2, 2.78 ERA) dominated on the mound, holding the 49ers to only two hits and an unearned run while striking out five batters in 8.1 innings.
“I felt like I had a great rhythm,” Ogburn said. “The competitor in me wanted to finish it, but I thought [Avent] made the right move, and we ended up with the win, and that is all that matters.”
With one out in the ninth, senior pitcher Chris Overman faced two batters. Overman gave up a single to Charlotte redshirt senior right fielder Tony Montalbano. Overman struck out 49er senior third baseman Shane Basen before giving way to redshirt senior Grant Sasser, who only faced one batter en route to the save.
State started strong by scoring two runs in the first two innings. Sophomore shortstop Trea Turner led off the game with a single. Sophomore right fielder Jake Fincher reached on a bunt single, advancing Turner to second. Both runners moved into scoring position thanks to a sacrifice bunt from sophomore catcher Brett Austin, setting up senior center fielder Brett Williams to score Turner from third on a sacrifice fly into right field for the game’s first run.
In the second inning, senior third baseman Grant Clyde led off with a single. Senior left fielder Bryan Adametz dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Clyde to second base. Junior designated hitter Sam Morgan hit an RBI single into left field as Clyde crossed the plate.
The 49ers started to rally in the bottom of the ninth as Charlotte redshirt senior shortstop Justin Roland led off with a single. Niner senior center fielder Michael Green followed with a fielder’s choice as sophomore second baseman Logan Ratledge’s throw to senior first baseman Tarran Senay arrived too late.
“We have been in a lot of close games where we were behind and have come back a lot this year,” Avent said. “We are used to this situation. That does not mean we always have to get in it, but we are comfortable with that situation, and it pays off.”
Ogburn went to the bench to give way to Overman who gave up a single then threw a strikeout in his two-batter performance. Sasser entered to attempt to close out the contest with two outs and runners on the corners.
Charlotte sophomore second baseman Brad Elwood hit a ground ball to Ratledge, but the Charlotte native botched the grounder and misfired on his throw to Senay as one run came across to score. Fincher grabbed the ball and threw to Senay who fired to Clyde as Montalbano was caught in between third base and home plate. Clyde hurled the ball to Austin as Montalbano was called out trying to tie the game.
“Right off the bat, I thought it was just a routine ground ball until it got under Ratledge’s legs,” Austin said.
“Williams did a great job of seeing the ball that got by Senay and made a big time play to pick up the short hop and get it to third,” Avent said. “Austin has been catching as well as anybody can catch. He did a great job of finishing that play and finishing the game.”
The Pack will travel to Atlanta this weekend for a three-game series against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The first game is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. with sophomore pitcher Carlos Rodon as the probable starter for State.
