The NC State baseball team bounced back from an ugly loss in game one of the weekend series against No. 22 Florida State, defeating the Seminoles, 4-3, in game two Saturday night at Doak Field.
The Wolfpack (17-15, 6-8 ACC) set the tone early as junior Evan Mendoza crushed a three-run homerun in the first inning. NC State also benefited from an incredible performance on the mound by junior Brian Brown (1-0, 3.13 ERA), who threw 6.1 innings and allowed just two runs. The Seminoles’ (21-12, 7-7 ACC) efforts were powered by a two-run homer by Rhett Aplin.
“Huge win because this league is just so great,” head coach Elliott Avent said. “Our team has done some great things. This is just a tough league. A great win tonight, a really big win. It’s good to hang on. I’m really proud of all the guys.”
Brown was credited with his first win of the season and allowed just four hits over his 6.1 innings. Brown also tallied five strikeouts. Tyler Holton (4-1, 2.47 ERA) took the loss, allowing six hits and four runs in 5.1 innings pitched.
“We’ve played defense all year,” Avent said. “We’ve run the bases all year. Now we are getting a little bit healthy and the pitching is coming around.”
Mendoza got things started off with a bang, crushing a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left field for a three-run homerun, just his second round-tripper of the season. Juniors Stephen Pitarra and Josh McLain came in to score on the two-out blast from Mendoza, who fouled off four pitches before connecting on the homer.
“I just tried to battle as much as I can,” Mendoza said. “I battled off any close pitches. He’s a pretty heavy changeup user, so I knew that was coming. I think he only used two other pitches that at bat. I just saw a changeup up, and I put it in the air.”
Brown struggled to find his command early in the game, walking three batters in the first two innings. He found his groove though, retiring nine-straight batters after allowing a leadoff walk in the second inning.
“I settled in and figured it out,” Brown said. “I don’t think anything really clicked. I just got in a rhythm more and I was able to get my changeup for a strike, which is good.”
The Pack flexed its muscles again in the fourth. Freshman Brad Debo got a hold of a pitch and sent it well beyond the right field wall for a solo homerun, giving NC State a 4-0 lead. It was Debo’s third homer of the season and would end up being the difference in the game.
The Noles pressured Brown in the fifth inning, starting the frame off with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, the Seminoles broke through with a sacrifice fly out that scored Drew Mendoza from third, cutting the Pack lead to 4-1.
NC State loaded the bases with just one out in the sixth inning, but failed to plate a run and bolster its lead. Debo and Mendoza both singled and moved to the next base on a wild pitch. After junior Joe Dunand was intentionally walked to load the bases, Debo was picked off at third base and sophomore Christian Demby struck out to end the threat.
Brown made way for junior Tommy DeJuneas in the seventh inning after walking a batter. Florida State’s Rhett Aplin worked a long at bat against DeJuneas before crushing a two-run homer to cut the Wolfpack lead to 4-3.
DeJuneas settled down to work a scoreless eighth before being pulled in the ninth after walking a batter. Sophomore Austin Staley entered in relief, walking one and getting one out before making way for junior Cody Beckman. Beckman was able to induce a double play to close out the game and earn the save.
“That was a huge win,” Brown said. “It can go either way on Sunday. That was a huge win for us and I really think we are coming around now.”
The Wolfpack will be back in action for the rubber match against Florida State Sunday at Doak Field.
