N.C. State trailed the entire game, but plated a run in the bottom ninth to force extra innings and then scored in the bottom of the 10th for the win. Ironically, both the tying and winning runs scored on passed balls to the catcher.
Middle relief from redshirt freshman pitcher Kyle Rutter and redshirt junior pitcher Sam Walls kept the Wolfpack in the game long enough to enable the comeback. Walls (5-0) pitched up his fifth win of the season in relief.
In the bottom of the 10th, sophomore third baseman Matt Mangini reached second on an error by East Carolina left fielder Jamie Ray. Mangini moved to third when junior shortstop Jonathan Diaz walked. The first pitch sophomore second baseman Ramon Corona saw when he stepped in with one out was a wild pitch that allowed Mangini to score.
Corona scored the tying run and was at the plate for the winning run. He said he loves being in that position.
“I love to be in those situations, where I gotta help my team out to win the game. I did the best I could and it felt great to help the team out,” Corona said.
Corona added he was not sure what to make of State leaving so many runners in scoring position.
“I don’t know what to tell you about that,” Corona said. “I think it’s just how these games go, it just works out that way.”
Coach Elliott Avent said he was disappointed about the runners left on third.
“I’m not so ticked at the number of runners left on base,” Avent said. “I’m more disappointed about runners on third base with one out twice, and didn’t score. That’s disappointing.”
After watching the Wolfpack strand senior center fielder Matt Camp on third in the bottom the first, the Pirates wasted little time getting on the board in the second inning. Adam Witter drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Witter scored on center fielder Jay Mattox’s one-out RBI double.
The Pack left runners in scoring position again in the bottom of the second. Junior catcher Caleb Mangum stood on third and Mangini stood on second with one out, but neither were driven in.
The Pirates increased their lead to three runs in the top of the fifth inning, in part due to a State error.
In the bottom of the fifth the Pack left another runner stranded at third, but after finally getting on the scoreboard. Freshman right fielder Marcus Jones led off with a single and Diaz followed with a chopper over the first baseman’s head to put runners at the corners with no outs.
Camp followed with a line-drive single to left center field to drive in Jones. Corona bunted over Diaz and Camp, then redshirt junior first baseman Aaron Bates grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate Diaz. After leaving another runner in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth, the Pack would go into the ninth down 3-2.
State finally tied the game up with runners on third when Corona scored on a passed ball with two out and sophomore outfielder Ryan Pond at bat. Corona singled with one out and advanced to third on a walk and a fly out before scoring the tying run to send the game into extra innings.
Avent said he expected the team to come back.
“It wasn’t this game that gave me that feeling. I always think this team is gonna come back,” Avent said.
Corona said the team felt like they were going to win the game.
“I don’t think anyone in our dugout, even though we were down most of the game or all of the game, felt that we were down,” Corona said. “I think we were all positive and very confident. You know how we are with our home field, we always pull it off at the end. It was great, I didn’t feel beat at all this game.”
Avent said the emotional series may have worn down his team some.
“A little bit drained I’m sure. Good thing we got a couple days off before we go play conference this weekend,” Avent said.
