In a crucial rubber match after splitting the first two contests of the weekend, the NC State baseball team grabbed a crucial game and series win against Clemson, leading from start to finish on its way to a convincing 8-3 victory on Senior Day at Doak Field.
The Wolfpack (39-14, 16-11 ACC) benefitted from solid performances on the mound and timely hitting while the Tigers (30-22, 13-14 ACC) committed two costly errors and struggled on the mound.
“I’m very proud of our guys because it was three dog fights,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “All three could have gone either way, we just found a way to do it.”
Sophomore second baseman J.T. Jarrett picked up a career-high four hits with a perfect 4-for-4 performance while junior shortstop Will Wilson turned in a 3-for-4 showing with two RBIs and a double in what is his last regular season home game at Doak Field. He’s on track to be an early-round pick in the MLB draft. Sophomore left fielder Jonny Butler added two RBIs of his own, including a clutch, two-RBI double in the sixth frame to break the game open for the Pack.
“I changed up a few things and I felt confident at the plate,” Jarrett said. “I had a few hit and runs, and when you put the ball in play good things happen.”
Sophomore left-hander David Harrison and redshirt freshman Cameron Cotter were both exceptional on the mound, with Cotter throwing 3.2 strong innings before giving up a two-run home run in the seventh. He still managed five strikeouts and no walks on just 59 pitches.
“Cameron was sensational,” Avent said. “I probably should have gone either [Canaan] Silver or [Evan] Justice out of the bullpen there, but he was pitching so well, and sometimes pitchers pitching that well talk you out of what you had planned.”
Clemson starter Holt Jones didn’t last long against the Wolfpack lineup. In fact, he didn’t record a single out. The left-hander walked three straight to begin the contest and was pulled in favor of lefty Jacob Hennessy.
With the bases loaded and no outs, the Pack managed three runs. A combination of a single by sophomore catcher Patrick Bailey, a double play and a wild pitch gave NC State a 3-0 advantage after the first inning.
Clemson got a run back in the second, Harrison escaped a jam to keep the score at 3-1.
The Wolfpack picked up another run in the fourth frame. A leadoff double from junior designated hitter Brad Debo got things started, and a quality at-bat from sophomore right fielder Terrel Tatum resulted in a full-count sac fly to move Debo to third. Redshirt junior third baseman Dillon Cooper smacked a grounder to third, which bounced off Justin Hawkins’ glove at the hot corner and over Logan Davidson’s head at shortstop to plate a run and make it 4-1 Wolfpack.
NC State opened things up in the sixth inning, chasing Hennessy from the game while plating three runs, two of which came from a double by Jonny Butler and one courtesy of a two-strike single to right off the bat of junior shortstop Will Wilson. The Pack led 7-1 after six.
Cotter, after relieving Harrison in the fourth, nearly got out of the seventh inning unscathed, but Michael Green blasted a two-run shot to left field as the Tigers cut the lead to 7-3. Sophomore left-hander Evan Justice induced a pop out from Grayson Byrd to end the inning.
Byrd and Davidson, the Tigers’ two best hitters, went just 1 of 7 with the lone hit being a bunt single.
“[Davidson’s] a first rounder,” Avent said. “You’re talking about a great player, and our guys did a great job.”
NC State would grab an insurance run in the eighth frame by way of an RBI double from Wilson, and redshirt sophomore right-hander Dalton Feeney recorded the last six outs to close the door on the Tigers and win the game 8-3.
It was a crucial win for the Pack, which had not won a conference series since taking two of three from Boston College over a month ago. It was an equally heartbreaking loss for Clemson, which may find itself outside of postseason contention now.
The Wolfpack will take on UNC-Chapel Hill on the road next weekend for its final regular-season series.
