North Carolina State University Athletics
Baseball Tops Campbell 9-8 in the 11th
2/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State had to go to extra innings against Campbell, but Andrew Ciencin came threw for the Wolfpack driving in Dallas Poulk for the game winning run. Losing both games to the Camels a year ago, the Wolfpack exacted revenge with a 9-8 win in a game that lasted 11 innings and 4 hours and 35 minutes. The win moved NC State to 4-0 and Campbell to 2-2.
Rob Chamra (1-0) picked up the win, while Ben Brown (0-2) was given the loss.
The bullpen cost a win from an otherwise brilliant performance from Jake Buchanan. A pitcher never wants to start off a game by hitting a batter, but Buchanan rebounded nicely by retiring the next 12 batters he faced. Buchanan fanned three, while only allowing one hit in 5 2/3 innings.
In the bottom of the first, Kyle Wilson led off with a double. After the two and three hitters went down, Drew Poulk singled to drive in Wilson and give the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead which they would never relinquish.
The Pack needed help in the second inning from Campell's second baseman Ellis Lowe, who committed a throwing error to first base on a potential double play ball hit by Matt Bergquist. With the wild throw Bergquist moved into scoring position. Wilson took advantage and drove him in with a single to left field. After Ciencin hit a single to advance Wilson to second, Pratt Maynard hit a single to drive Wilson in for a 3-0 lead. After just 47 pitches, NC State knocked out the Camel's starting pitcher Jeff Rydman.
Ryan Mattes relieved Rydman and only allowed 1 hit over 2 2/3 innings before being pulled after walking John Gianis in the fifth. With Dan Canela pinch hitting for Harold Riggins, Campbell brought in lefty Colin Parker. The lefty-lefty matchup didn't phase Canela, who drove a single into right center and advanced Gianis to third. The Wolfpack wasn't able to capitalize as the next two batters were retired.
Mike Russo came into relief for Buchanan in the sixth inning and got Alex Aycoth to fly out to right after allowing the first two batters to reach base.
Campbell took Parker out in the bottom of the sixth after allowing a leadoff single to Bergquist. The Pack got two straight singles off of reliever Frank Zier before he was yanked. Kyle Wilson's single drove in Bergquist for a 4-0 lead. Daniel Gardo came in for Campbell with two runners on first and second. Kyle Wilson and Ciencin pulled off a double steal, which led to Gardo intentionally walking Drew Poulk. Gianis came to bat with the bases loaded and one out and grounded into a fielder's choice to second base. It wasn't all for nothing as Kyle Wilson was driven in on the play to increase the lead to 5-0. Zier got out of the inning with Canela popping out to second base.
Campbell showed some life in the seventh inning, scoring two runs. Zach Johnson led the inning with a single of Russo into right field. Bryce Grady pinch hit for Josh Holskey, but grounded into a fielder's choice. Russo struck out Cameron Nelson for the second out, but followed that with a walk. With two batters on, Russo threw a wild pitch which put both runners in scoring position.
Felix Roque came in for Russo and allowed Kevin Nelson to hit a double down the right field line. Both runners scored to make the score 5-2. Chris Bangi singled to put two on, but DJ Johnson grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
The Wolfpack responded in the bottom-half of the seventh. Dallas Poulk led off with a single and proceeded to steal second base. After Chris Schaeffer hit a sacrifice bunt, Bergquist hit a single to drive in Poulk. Bergquist then advanced to second on a balk. Kyle Wilson followed with his fourth hit of the day, which scored Bergquist. Ciencin hit a double to left center to drive in Kyle Wilson to make the score 8-2, but was thrown out at second after trying to advance to third. Maynard continued the hitting spree with a double.
Campbell pulled Gardo after Maynard's double and put in Logan Self. Drew Poulk reached on an throwing error before Gianis grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
Roque was pulled in eighth with two outs after Grady's double down the right line drove in Alex Aycoth. Nick Rice came in for one batter, as he allowed Cameron Newton to bat in Grady on a single up the middle to cut the Wolfpack's lead in half, 8-4. Russell Wilson relieved Rice. Wilson allowed two straight singles which cut the lead to 8-5 before striking out leadoff hitter Chris Bangi to end the inning.
Russell Wilson lost command in the ninth inning. After hitting the leadoff batter, Wilson struck out Ellis Lowe. He then walked and hit the next two batters. With the bases loaded, Russell Wilson walked Grady to cut the lead 8-6. Wilson seemed to regain his composure and struck out Cameron Newton. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack Bryan Braswell hit a blooper over Dallas Poulk to tie the game 8-8. Nelson lined out to left to end the inning.
After Bergquist struck out to begin the ninth, Kyle Wilson walked and ended Self's night. Ben Brown came in for the Camels and got the next two batters to fly out to end the inning.
Chamra stepped to the mound to begin the 10th inning. He led off by walking the first batter, but struck out the next two and forced Aycoth to ground out to third base. The Pack couldn't muster anything in the bottom of the inning against Brown.
In the 11th inning with Chamra still on the mound Grady got a single, but the Camels couldn't do anything with it.
Dallas Poulk led with a single in the bottom of the 11th, with Brown still pitching. Schaeffer moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Bergquist stayed hot with a single that moved Poulk to third. Campbell decided to walk Kyle Wilson who was 5-6 to load the bases and face Ciencin with one out. Ciencin came threw with an RBI single down the left base line to win the game.
The Wolfpack travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Friday, Feb. 26 to partake in the Baseball at the Beach event. They open with UC Irvine on Friday at noon, followed by James Madison on Saturday and Coastal Carolina on Sunday.
