North Carolina State University Athletics
Clutch 2-out Hits Help Pack Down Tigers, 13-8
5/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
GREENSBORO, N.C. – NC State used the short ball Wednesday night to down Clemson in its first round game at the 2010 ACC Baseball Championship.
Sure the Wolfpack hit two more home runs – upping its total this season to 92 – but it was five consecutive two-out singles in the top of the sixth inning that allowed Elliott Avent's squad to break open a back-and-forth game and secure the win for surprise starter Alex Sogard.
In the seventh inning, senior second baseman Dallas Poulk hit a two-out, two-run homer over the left-centerfield wall. In all, the Wolfpack's clutch offense scored seven of its 13 runs with two outs at NewBridge Bank Park.
The Wolfpack has been clutch all season long, with exactly one-third of its RBIs (167 of 500) coming with two outs. In Wednesday's win, the Pack was 8-for-16 with two outs.
"With two outs, we have such a good lineup if we can just get runners on base, we are going to score runs," said senior centerfielder Kyle Wilson, who was 4-for-5 with four RBIs on the night. "We are very confident hitters."
That confidence carried over to the pitching mound for Sogard, a fifth-year senior with nine previous starts this season. Taking his turn Wednesday allowed the Wolfpack's weekend starters, Jake Buchanan and Cory Mazzoni, to get two more days of rest so they can be ready for Friday's game against Georgia Tech and Saturday's game against Virginia Tech, respectively. The Pack is off Thursday and will have a light workout at UNC Greensboro in an attempt to stay sharp for the rest of the tournament.
Sogard (2-2) has pitched in big games before, including the final two innings against South Carolina in the 2008 NCAA Raleigh Regional that advanced the Wolfpack to the NCAA Athens (Ga.) Super Regional. He's battled throughout this year after having surgery in the summer to repair a torn labrum.
He has slowly regained his velocity he said, and is working his way back into the 90s with his fastball.
"I am definitely starting to feel better as my velocity comes back," said Sogard, who had one shaky inning when he gave up a looping two-out double to Mike Freeman and long home run to right field that gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead in the fifth.
"I just knew if I threw strikes and held them down a little bit, our offense would take care of it," said the senior, who finished with six hits, three earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts. "Throughout the year, we have been a heavy-hitting team. We know as pitchers, if we can hold down the game and keep it close, we will eventually break out."
And that's exactly what happened in the Wolfpack's next at-bat. After designated hitter Pratt Maynard grounded out to second, catcher Chris Schaeffer doubled down the left field line, igniting a game-changing rally. Pinch hitter Tarran Senay walked and shortstop Matt Bergquist hit into a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners.
Then one-by-one, Kyle Wilson, Dallas Poulk, Drew Poulk, Harold Riggins and Andrew Ciencin all singled up the middle, driving in runs that gave the Wolfpack an 8-4 lead. Dallas Poulk then added two more insurance runs an inning later.
But when the Tigers swept three games from the Wolfpack in the regular-season series at Clemson in mid-March, they twice came back against the Wolfpack bullpen. This game was no different, as Rob Chambra, Grant Sasser and Anthony Tzamtzis gave up four runs in two innings of relief work. Tzamtzis gave up a three-run homer to Clemson catcher John Nester, allowing Clemson to close the gap to 10-8.
The Wolfpack, which pounded out 16 hits on the night, answered with three more runs in the top of the ninth, on a double by John Gianis, a single by Matt Bergquist and a single by Kyle Wilson. It was Wilson's fourth hit of the game and his fourth RBI. He hit a solo homer in the top of the fifth that gave Sogard one of his three leads on the night. He also had singles in the sixth and the seventh.
"This team came so ready to play tonight," said Avent. "They were relaxed and focused. They have learned how to play together. The last month of the season, this has been as good a team to be around as any I have coached."
The Wolfpack's two home runs continued the team's heavy hitting of late. It now has 26 homers in its last 11 games.
But defense also played an important role in the game. Dallas Poulk snagged a line drive in the bottom of the first and quickly turned a double play to end what could have been a big inning for the Tigers.
"Dallas' defense is really a testament to how ready our team was to play," Avent said. "Everything was in sync for us tonight. We played very well."
Mazzoni, projected to start for the Wolfpack in Saturday's game against Virginia Tech, pitched the final inning to close out the game. Mazzoni made 13 relief appearances last year and recorded one save. He was scheduled to get an arm-loosening mid-week bullpen session anyway, so associate head coach Tom Holliday decided earlier this week to let him take it in the game. He allowed two runners, but ended the game with a strikeout.
Clemson took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, when Brad Miller singled and scored on a double to left field by Jeff Schaus.
The Wolfpack quickly answered in the top of the second, when Riggins tripled off the centerfield wall. Riggins scored on Ciencin's single to left and the Wolfpack went on to load the bases with just one out when Schaeffer and starting left fielder Russell Wilson drew back-to-back walks.
After shortstop Matt Bergquist popped out to first base, Kyle Wilson walked to score Ciencin from third to give the Wolfpack a 2-1 lead. But the potential for a big inning ended as senior second baseman Dallas Poulk popped out to his counterpart at second.
Clemson tied the score after Brad Miller singled and Mike Freeman walked. On a sharp grounder in the gap by Schaus, Bergquist threw wildly to first base, allowing Miller to score. But Schaus was thrown out trying to advance to second, ending the inning.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
