After leading 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, just three outs from a victory, NC State baseball eventually found itself on the opposite side of the scoreboard, falling 5-4 in a 10-inning showdown against Kentucky in Game 1 of the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Wolfpack took its first lead of the game in the top of the ninth inning after graduate first baseman Garrett Pennington scored on a wild pitch from Kentucky pitcher Johnny Hummel. The Pack had an opportunity to extend the lead, but a line out and fly out stranded two runners on base, halting the red-and-white’s momentum.
Kentucky wasted no time in its response as first baseman Ryan Nicholson hit an opposite-field home run to immediately tie the game and give his squad a chance at a walk-off. The Wildcats managed to get the potentially game-winning runner all the way to third base, but nifty pitching from Wolfpack right-handed pitcher Derrick Smith stranded the game-winning runner and sent the game to extra innings.
The Pack couldn’t develop any offense in extras, going three up, three down in the top of the 10th inning and allowing Kentucky to hit a walk-off. A fly-out and a sidearm pickoff from junior catcher Jacob Cozart prevented the Wildcats from getting a runner past first base, and the game appeared as though it would extend to an 11th inning. But third baseman Mitchell Daly had different plans. He sent a home run beyond the left-field wall to secure Kentucky victory, marking the third straight walk-off of the 2024 College World Series.
In what could’ve been his final start in a Wolfpack uniform, graduate right-handed pitcher Sam Highfill pitched one of his best games of the season. “The Mayor” is one of the only remaining members of NC State’s 2021 College World Series team, and his veteran experience in Omaha was on full display.
Highfill had a rocky start to the game, allowing three hits and one run in the first inning, but threw three strikeouts to stall Kentucky. As the Wolfpack remained scoreless through two innings, Highfill held the Wildcats hitless in the second inning to keep the score within one.
The offense finally awoke in the third inning. Pennington opened the inning with a base hit to left field and was eventually brought home by Cozart with an RBI single. Back-to-back ground outs closed out the top half of the inning and Highfill held Kentucky hitless for the second straight inning to officially tie the game after three.
The Pack’s offensive sluggishness returned in the fourth, but Kentucky broke the stalemate. After the lead-off batter got on base, center fielder Nolan McCarthy smashed a two-run homer to left field to make it a 3-1 game. Highfill locked back in following the homer and allowed just one hit while facing the minimum the rest of his time on the plate until freshman right-handed pitcher Jacob Dudan replaced him at the end of the seventh inning. “The Mayor” finished his stint with seven strikeouts and three earned runs off six hits while throwing 116 pitches.
Neither team could develop an offense through the fifth and sixth innings as Kentucky continued to hold the lead, but the Pack finally got the break it was searching for in the seventh inning. Senior right-fielder Noah Soles got a base hit off the first pitch he saw, but the early momentum was threatened by back-to-back strikeouts immediately following the single.
Fortunately for the Wolfpack, it has a hitting machine named Alec Makarewicz. The graduate third-baseman sent a missile beyond the center field wall for his 23rd home run and the Pack’s 100th homer of the season. The game-tying home run awoke every red-and-white fan at Charles Schwab Field as ‘Wolfpack’ chants rang out and brought new life to the ball game.
The Wolfpack played an excellent game on both sides of the ball, but it was simply outdueled by the strong Kentucky offense. Despite the tough loss, there is still hope for the Pack. The loss relegates it to the loser’s bracket, where every game is now an elimination game. NC State looks to make this just a temporary setback as it continues its push to the National Championship.
The Wolfpack returns for a win-or-go-home matchup against Florida on Monday, June 17. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
