After inclement weather canceled yesterday’s game, No. 20 NC State Baseball lost 8-1 to No. 7 Florida State in Tallahassee, Florida.
From the start, the Seminoles (35-10, 14-9 ACC) asserted themselves through a high-powered first inning. After walking the leadoff batter, the Wolfpack (26-18, 13-10 ACC) immediately fell behind as Florida State third baseman Cam Smith teed off for a two-run homer.
The Noles continued to apply pressure as they quickly put two more runners on base. They put another run on the board as a fielding error occurred on a fielder’s choice, allowing them to bring in their third run. Another run crossed home plate before the end of the inning as Alex Lodise doubled to put the Pack in a quick 4-0 deficit.
In the second inning, the Pack got some offensive momentum as it eventually put two runners on second and third base. NC State got on the board as junior designated hitter Chase Nixon hit a sac fly to bring in one run and cut the deficit to three.
After suffering a crushing start to the game, sophomore left-handed pitcher Dominic Fritton bounced back. Mostly limiting any baserunners in the next two innings, the Pack prevented any further damage and kept the score at 4-1. In the fourth, the Noles broke through again as they crushed a one-run blast, however, Fritton responded and stopped any further damage by bringing an end to the inning.
Midway through the fifth, the Pack turned to the bullpen as it brought in redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Logan Whitaker. In his first appearance since March 29, his return was certainly a cause for delight for NC State fans.
Despite finding success on the mound in the fifth, the Noles got to the righty in the sixth. After initially punching out the first batter, a base hit and two walks loaded the bases. Smith continued a strong day for Florida State as he singled to bring home one baserunner. With the bases still loaded, the Pack allowed two more runs as it walked another batter and allowed another base hit as the Seminoles extended their lead to 8-1.
During a tough sixth inning, the Pack turned to freshman right-handed pitcher Jacob Dudan to halt any further Florida State momentum. He did just that in the ensuing 1.2 innings by preventing any further offensive action. With the help of three more out of the bullpen, the pitching staff posted two scoreless frames to give the NC State bats an opportunity to mount a comeback.
Despite their best efforts, NC State couldn’t capitalize. In the third inning, the Pack had two runners on with only one out. However, two quick fly outs brought a quick end to the frame.
In the sixth inning, NC State had its most productive inning of the afternoon as two base hits and a walked batter loaded the bases. Causing a pitching change for Florida State with the top of its order coming up, the Pack looked to do some damage and climb back into the game. However, it was not meant to be as yet another fly out extinguished any hope of retaliating against the Noles.
In the remaining three innings, the Pack’s bats cooled off at the wrong time as two consecutive 1-2-3 innings helped feed into the momentum of Noles’ reliever Connor Hults as he went on to toss 3.1 innings in relief along with four strikeouts. Despite putting a runner on late in the ninth, it was not enough as he was also left on base as Hults and the Seminoles found a way to stamp a conclusion to the contest in which 10 stranded Wolfpack batters could have possibly been the difference-maker.
NC State Baseball will return to Doak Field on Tuesday, May 7 as it takes on Norfolk State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm and will be televised on ACC Network Extra.
