NC State baseball lost to USC-Upstate in a midweek matchup 15-5 after seven innings at Doak Field as the pitching staff couldn’t contain the Spartans’ offense.
The loss to USC Upstate (13-11) marks the third midweek loss for the Wolfpack (17-8), after dropping its first two to start the season against Liberty and Richmond.
NC State’s most recent series against Pittsburgh came to an unfortunate end in the eighth inning when the 4 p.m. drop-dead rule was applied, as the Pack had to catch a 6:30 flight back home, despite it being a two-run game, 5-3. Frustrations stemming from losing its ability to stage a comeback and the winter-like temperatures in Pittsburgh over the weekend boiled over into the game versus USC Upstate.
“It was miserable weather,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “I think we saw snow. I think we saw hail, and we saw wind like you wouldn’t believe. And it was miserable. But the worst part is you’ve got a game that’s got to end because we have a 6:30 flight, so the game’s got to end one inning short in a conference game, which it’s ridiculous. That’s not even baseball. I’m embarrassed that we have to do stuff like that in this league. This league should not have stuff like that happen. It’s embarrassing.”
Avent said the Pittsburgh trip also imposed logistical challenges for the team.
“Then we gotta fly to Baltimore, sit there for two or three hours and get on once again at about midnight or so, and these guys got to go to class and then play a Tuesday game,” Avent said. “I would like to see the program get in a better situation where we’re not doing stuff like this.”
The Pack came out flat as the Spartans jumped ahead to a 9-0 lead in the first three innings. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Cooper Consiglio started the game on the bump, only making it 1.2 innings and giving up five runs on four hits and three walks, including a run scored on a wild pitch and a three run homerun which punished Consiglio for walking two batters.
The next pitcher on the mound was sophomore right-handed pitcher Jaxon Lucas, who did not look as shaky as Consiglio, but still lacked command. Lucas gave up four runs on two hits and two walks, with four of the six batters he faced getting on base. When his day was determined to be done, senior right-handed pitcher Carson Kelly came to the mound.
Kelly pitched 3.2 solid innings, grabbing a career-high six strikeouts. As the Wolfpack bats started to get going in the third and fourth innings, Kelly kept the game in reach, but the NC State offense went dormant in the final three innings.
On the offensive side, it was a two-man show. The pinnacle came in the fourth inning when junior shortstop Matt Heavner clobbered a grand slam over the left field fence, cutting the deficit in half and bringing the Pack within a reachable distance of the Spartans.
But following the homerun, the Pack only got one more hit — which came in the next at bat — a single where junior right-fielder Josh Hogue was stranded at third base as the next three batters were retired in order.
“You just gotta be locked in for every game,” Heavner said. “It’s a long season, you can’t take any game or anybody for granted. You gotta be locked in for every pitch.”
Hogue was the only other NC State player to bat in a run, with a sac fly to center field, bringing in Heavner, who had reached via walk. He went 2-2 with two singles.
The game ended early as the final three Wolfpack batters all struck out and couldn’t cut the lead to less than ten to extend the game.
“A lot of these guys need to have a gut check with themselves and figure out how they are and who they want to be,” Avent said. “Because some of these guys were absolutely not ready to play at all.”
The Pack better be ready to go for its next matchup, as it takes on Duke, with the Blue Devils riding a five game winning streak, in Durham March 28-30.
