The NC State baseball team pulled away late and prevented a sweep against North Carolina Tar Heels with a 6-3 victory Sunday at Boshamer Stadium.
Coming into the game, the Pack had lost two straight games to the Heels, losing 2-1 on Friday and 3-2 in extra innings on Saturday. Senior centerfielder Jake Fincher was very proud of his team’s effort on Sunday.
“They’re such a good team and its so hard to get a win against them,” Fincher said. “It feels really good to get this third game and get a little momentum.”
Pitching for the Pack Sunday was sophomore right-handed pitcher Johnny Piedmonte (1-1, 1.96 ERA) while the Heels sent senior right-hander Brenton Moss (5-0, 3.21 ERA).
The Tar Heels had an early chance to score when junior centerfielder Skye Bolt hit a double along the right field line to put himself in scoring position with just one out in the first inning, but Piedmonte would shut down the opportunity.
After allowing two Pack players to get on base in the third, Moss would be taken out of the game. Moss had a final stat line of one hit on 36 pitches while fanning two through two and-a-third innings. Moss was relieved by junior right-handed reliever Trent Thornton.
The Pack capitalized off the pitching change as sophomore first baseman Preston Palmiero would be walked with the bases loaded to ring in the first run of the game for the Pack. Sophomore catcher Andrew Knizner would fly out one batter later to end the third with the Pack on top 1-0.
The Tar Heels answered quickly as freshman third baseman Zack Gahagan and sophomore first baseman Joe Dudek both hit RBI singles off of sophomore left-handed reliever Ryan Williamson to tack on two runs and take the lead 2-1.
During the third, there was a brief scare when Fincher fell on his shoulder diving to make a catch and seemed to injure himself, but Fincher said he was fine and was focused on playing baseball.
“I didn’t really feel too bad, i was just disappointed in my for not making the play,” Said Fincher, “I wasn’t really thinking about injuries.”
Sophomore left hander Ryan Williamson relieved Piedmonte during the third, pitching four innings for the Pack with five strikeouts. Despite the statline, Williamson remained humble about his accomplishments on the field Sunday.
“I was just trying to throw strikes and throw it down in the zone,” Williamson said. “It worked out today.”
The lead was short-lived for the Tar Heels, as Pack freshman third baseman Joe Dunand would hit an RBI double to drive in junior left fielder Ryne Willard to tie the game with two outs in the third. The inning would later end with the teams tied with two runs each.
The Pack retook the lead as Palmiero would hit a single into shallow right field to drive in Fincher to take the lead. Knizner would drive in another run and the Pack would end the fifth on top, 4-2.
After going scoreless for three innings, the Tar Heels scored a run after Lassiter hit a two-out double to drive in freshman designated hitter Brian Miller. The inning ended shortly after with the Heels still behind, 4-3.
The Wolfpack tacked on two more runs in the top of ninth to pull away and win the game 6-3 after shutting down the Heels offense in the final two innings.
The win is the Pack’s fourth road win on the season, as the team is now 4-9 on the road. Fincher remained upbeat about the Pack’s ability to play well on the road.
“It’s something to work on,” Fincher said. “We just need to have the right mind-set and be really ready to play.”
Having a poor away record with four of the next five games on the road, the Wolfpack will aim to more success away from Doak Field.
