Down 6-0 on the road, all hope looked lost for NC State baseball.
Using a fifth-inning scoring outburst and an impressive performance from freshman pitcher Anderson Nance, NC State rallied for a 7-6 victory over Cal, clinching the series. With the win, the Wolfpack earned its fifth ACC series victory in six tries.
Despite being a transfer-heavy squad, NC State (26-12, 11-6 ACC) is quickly finding its groove in ACC play, playing its best baseball of the season. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears (18-20, 6-14) continued their slump, dropping their fourth straight ACC series.
Starting sophomore pitcher Heath Andrews unraveled in the fourth, allowing five runs on five hits. The game’s turning point came in the fifth inning when the Wolfpack offense finally broke through to keep pace with Cal.
The Golden Bears gifted NC State a pair of free bases to open the fifth as the Wolfpack found its bats, hitting five singles with runners in scoring position while tacking on another run after a wild pitch. The red-and-white completed a wild six-run frame with Nance headed to the mound.
With the freshman star at the helm, Cal’s offense instantly froze. Nance pitched the remaining five innings and put on a show-stopping performance. Facing 15 batters, Nance retired every single one, stifling the Golden Bears with seven total strikeouts — including a run of six consecutive Ks. Nance stood out as NC State’s top performer, helping seal the comeback.
The outing demonstrated Nance’s progress as a breakout star. Similar to sophomore pitcher Jacob Dudan’s 2024 campaign, Nance is becoming a freshman sensation to be relied on in the biggest moments.
The freshman holds an impressive 6-1 record and a 2.95 ERA. Nance isn’t just keeping runners from scoring — he’s stopping them from reaching base, allowing just a .224 batting average. If NC State continues its strong play against ACC competition, expect Nance to be at the center of the winning.
With Nance shoving and an even score, the Wolfpack was in prime position to steal a road win. However, the offense cooled off from its blistering hot fifth inning, until junior right fielder Brayden Fraasman blasted a solo homer in the seventh. Fraasman left no doubt with his seventh home run of the season.
Following Fraasman’s moon shot, both offenses remained silent through the final two innings, and NC State held on for a 7-6 win.
The Wolfpack will conclude its series at Cal on Saturday, as the Pack tries for its first ACC sweep of the year. First pitch from Stu Gordon Stadium is set for 5 p.m. with the game available on ACC Network Extra.
