NC State baseball defeated UNC-Greensboro 9-6 Tuesday night at Doak Field, overcoming a 5-0 deficit.
The Wolfpack (19-10) came into the game looking to bounce back after dropping two of three against Duke. Not a better opponent to bounce back against than the in-state Spartans (12-16), whom the Wolfpack had beaten previously this season.
After a scoreless first inning, both offenses got going in the second. The Spartans were the first to get on the scoreboard with five runs scored in the inning. They scored off a single, three-run homer and a throwing error. NC State also put its mark on the board in the second with a three-run homer by junior right fielder Brayden Fraasman. At the end of the second, the Spartans led 5-3.
The Wolfpack continued its hot hitting into the third when freshman center fielder Ty Head hit a single that scored two players, making the score 5-5. The Wolfpack took the lead in the fourth after a single from junior left fielder Josh Hogue that scored sophomore second baseman Luke Nixon to take a 6-5 lead.
The fifth and sixth innings went scoreless, but a Head grounder in the seventh got scoring going again for the Pack as it resulted in Hogue scoring. In the eighth, the Spartans snagged a run off a grounder, but the Pack responded with a Hogue single in which sophomore catcher Drew Lanphere scored, followed by a grounder by senior shortstop Justin DeCriscio where Nixon scored. This put the Pack ahead 9-6. Junior pitcher Andrew Shaffner then closed out the ninth with two strikeouts to complete the 5-0 comeback.
“Anytime you see that happen, any comeback, you think we’re never out of it,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “It’s just that belief in each other, and you basically keep playing. You gotta keep grinding. It’s good to do that. Anytime you see that, it builds confidence that’s going to happen again.”
One big standout in the game was Shaffner. Coming out of the bullpen, Shaffner pitched the last 4.1 innings, giving up just one run with seven strikeouts. This played a crucial role in helping the Pack secure the win.
“I felt really good on the mound,” Shaffner said. “Felt confident as a pitcher. Being confident is one of the most important things, and early in the game, taking my teammates back after the three-run shot and wanting to come back and win this thing.”
It was Shaffner’s third save of the season and his emergence has been crucial to a Wolfpack bullpen that has struggled at times throughout the season.
“A lot of guys can do different things, but Shaffner has just been really good for us,” Avent said.
With the win, the red-and-white completed its sweep over the Spartans. As it moves forward into its next game, it will use this game as a confidence booster. Wins in which a team overcomes adversity can serve as a big turning point in a season if used correctly afterward.
This is very relevant now for NC State as it now turns attention to hosting the Virginia Cavaliers. Virginia was ranked No. 2 in the preseason rankings but is currently unranked at the moment. This would make a series win in Raleigh much bigger for both teams, as both are hungry to get back in the Top 25.
“It’s huge,” Head said. “UVA is playing well right now, so it’s good to get back on the win column and show them what we’re made of.”
The Wolfpack returns for a series against Virginia beginning on Friday. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
