CHAPEL HILL– A day after a heartbreaking loss in game one, the Wolfpack was firing on all cylinders Friday night at Boshamer Stadium as the NC State baseball team trounced UNC-Chapel Hill 11-2 to set up a rubber match Saturday.
The Wolfpack (40-15, 17-12 ACC) notched its 40th win for the second straight season behind a superb outing from sophomore right-hander Reid Johnston while the Tar Heels (38-16, 17-12 ACC) struggled to stifle to the Pack offense, using six different hurlers and surrendering 13 hits, a pair of home runs and six walks.
“This was the response we wanted, and needed,” head coach Elliott Avent said. “I’m real proud of the guys.”
Junior shortstop Will Wilson went a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate, falling a triple short of the cycle with two doubles. Sophomore left fielder Jonny Butler raked to a 4-for-5 line and freshman center fielder Tyler McDonough went yard en route to three RBIs.
UNC righty Austin Bergner had a rough first inning to start the contest, thanks in part to a couple of defensive miscues. Two straight singles put runners on for senior first baseman Evan Edwards and sophomore catcher Patrick Bailey, but Bergner fanned both.
Needing just one more strike to get out of the inning unscathed, Bergner surrendered a single to right off the bat of McDonough, which Ashton McGee proceeded to boot and then airmail over second base, allowing two runs to score. Junior designated hitter Brad Debo then ripped an RBI single of his own to put the Pack up 3-0 early.
Johnston gave NC State 5.1 solid innings of work thanks to an efficient 4-pitch first inning and 5-pitch second inning. Bergner was on the other end of the scale, totaling 69 pitches through just 3.1 frames.
“I thought Reid Johnston was the story,” Avent said. “He’s cool, calm, collected, he wants this game and he knows what it means.”
The fourth inning brought three more runs across for the Wolfpack. Coming off a 4-for-4 performance in his last start, sophomore second baseman J.T. Jarrett and Butler got on base for Wilson, who doubled to drive in a run.
“It feels really rewarding,” Butler said. “I think we’re playing more complete games. It seems like we have more energy out there.”
Bergner was pulled in favor of Hansen Butler but to no avail. Edwards drove Wilson and Butler in to give the Wolfpack a 6-0 advantage.
After each team picked up a run in the fifth frame, Wilson and Tyler McDonough added a solo home run and a two-run shot, respectively, in the sixth to give NC State a commanding 10-1 lead.
Johnston’s day ended in the sixth inning. Sophomore left-hander Evan Justice and freshman right-hander Baker Nelson combined to finish the game while giving up just one run.
The two teams exchanged runs in the seventh and eighth innings, making the score 11-2, which would hold as the final tally.
“It’s more than just a win, it’s the way we beat them,” Wilson said. “We come out ready to play and you put it to them and you keep putting it to them the whole game so you’ve got to be proud of everybody.”
The win was an emotional one for the Wolfpack community, as former longtime NC State baseball Sports Information Director Bruce Winkworth passed away Friday morning. A moment of silence was held for him prior to Friday’s matchup.
“I think that shows what Bruce Winkworth has meant to the entire baseball community,” Avent said. “He’s one of the smartest baseball people I’ve ever met in my life. I always called him my bench coach, my general manager… it was a tough day for me emotionally.”
The Wolfpack will return to Chapel Hill for a decisive game three of the series Saturday. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.
