In the decisive third game of the weekend series, the NC State baseball team never looked back after a four-run, two-out rally in the first inning to top the Florida State Seminoles, 8-4, Sunday at Doak Field.
The Wolfpack (18-15, 7-8 ACC) received plenty of offense and stellar pitching to take the series over Florida State (21-13, 7-8 ACC).
“A lot of positive things going on with this team,” head coach Elliott Avent said. “I know we’re trending up, it’s just a hard league to trend up in.”
Freshman right-hander Michael Bienlien earned his third start of the season for the Pack. The Chesapeake, Virginia native came into the game sporting a 4.45 ERA in just over 28 innings pitched to go along with 23 strikeouts and nine free passes.
Florida State left-hander Drew Parrish drew the start for the Seminoles. After recording two quick outs in the top of the first, junior centerfielder Josh McLain smacked a double and freshman designated hitter Brad Debo followed with a walk. Junior third baseman Evan Mendoza promptly lined a single to right centerfield to score McLain and put the Pack up 1-0.
State continued the two-out rally as junior shortstop Joe Dunand placed a grounder off the glove of the diving Florida State shortstop for a double and another run as Debo crossed the plate. Sophomore right-fielder Brett Kinneman yanked a line drive to right, getting past the Seminole right fielder and scoring Mendoza and Dunand to put the Pack up 4-0 when the first inning concluded.
“It puts me at ease knowing I’m pitching with a lead,” Bienlien said. “I go up there and I can attack guys and get ahead.”
Bienlien was cruising through the Florida State lineup, but the Seminoles managed to get on the scoreboard in the fourth inning with a two-run homerun by first baseman Drew Mendoza.
The Pack answered in the bottom of the fourth. Junior catcher Andrew Cosgrove singled to center and advanced to third on a single by Pitarra. Florida State replaced Parrish on the mound with freshman left-hander Grant Stewart. Wilson then sent a grounder past the Seminole third baseman to drive in two runs and put the Pack up 7-2.
Bienlien yielded two base runners in the sixth inning by way of a double and a walk, but the righty managed to escape the jam and preserve the Wolfpack lead at 7-2 and record the final out of his appearance. Bienlien went six strong innings, giving up just two earned runs, three hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
NC State added another run in the sixth while recording just one hit. Junior right-fielder Brock Deatherage was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second on a bunt by Pitarra. After a wild pitch, Deatherage made his way to third and then home on another wild pitch to extend the NC State lead to 8-2.
Redshirt sophomore Austin Staley was called upon in relief in the seventh inning and came on to pitch 2.2 innings, surrendering just one run in that time frame.
The Wolfpack loaded the bases in the eighth but to no avail. The Seminoles got a run of their own in the same inning when third baseman Tyler Daughtry led off with a single. Two batters later, Daughtry was on third and came into score on a shirt popup to right centerfield, cutting the Wolfpack lead to 8-3. Staley managed to thwart any further damage and escaped the inning with only one run for the Seminoles.
Florida State added one more run in the ninth, but the Pack ultimately prevailed, 8-4.
“I thought it was big for us as a team to be able to come back two days in a row and play two pretty complete games,” Kinneman said. “It was a big confidence boost for us to win last night and then, coming into today, it helped us.”
Bienlien was credited with the win, his second of the season.
The Pack will take on UNC-Greensboro next on Tuesday and then face UNC-Chapel Hill in the upcoming weekend series.
Junior lefthand pitcher Brian Brown throws a pitch at the baseball game against Florida State on April 8, 2017. Wolfpack won 8-4 at Doak FIeld.
