NC State
15-6, 0
Notre Dame
8-9, 0
No. 13 Pack Falls to ND in Extras, 8-4
3/19/2016 6:57:00 PM | Baseball
NC State baseball let a ninth-inning lead slip away
The Wolfpack (15-6, 2-3 ACC) scored all four runs during a fourth-inning rally to break a scoreless tie. Notre Dame (8-9, 1-4) chopped away with single runs in the fifth and sixth, before tying the game 4-4 in the top ninth. In the 12th, the Irish scored four to set the final 8-4.
NC State starter Brian Brown took a no-decision following a career-high 13 strikeouts, the most for a Wolfpack pitcher since Carlos Rodon delivered 15 against Georgia Tech on April 25, 2014. Brown retired 12 of his first 14 on the way to 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned on six hits and two walks. The Wolfpack pitching staff finished with a season-high 20 strikeouts.
Seven relievers followed to mixed results. Austin Staley retired the only batter he faced to finish the sixth. Will Gilbert shut out the Irish for the next 1 2/3. Tommy DeJuneas allowed two earned in three innings with three punchouts. Chris Williams retired one batter. Sean Adler (0-1) took the loss on four earned in the 12th. Kyle Smith and Travis Orwig closed out the inning.
Josh McLain led the offense in a 3-for-5 showing with his fourth stolen base of the year. Stephen Pitarra went 3-for-6 with a run and a double. Brock Deatherage doubled in a 2-for-5 day with an RBI. Preston Palmeiro contributed his ninth double of the year in a 2-for-6 outing with two RBIs and a run.
Chance Shepard went 2-for-6. Evan Mendoza scored once in a 2-for-6 ballgame. Shane Shepard went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. No Wolfpack batters walked in the 12-inning contest.
NC State returns to action on Sunday at Noon for the series finale. Streaming coverage will air on ESPN3. Radio duties will be covered by 88.1 WKNC. Fans can follow along with live stats on GoPack.com, or Twitter updates via @NCStateBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brandon Bielak (1-1)
L: Adler, Sean (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Cavan Biggio 1 ; Jake Johnson 1 ; Lane Richards 2
RBI: Cavan Biggio 1 ; Jake Shepski 1 ; Zak Kutsulis 2 ; Lane Richards 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Cavan Biggio 2 ; Torii Hunter Jr. 2 ; Zak Kutsulis 2 ; Lane Richards 1 ; Connor Stutts 1
SB: Zak Kutsulis 1 ; Lane Richards 1
CS: Zak Kutsulis 1
Batting:
2B: Deatherage, Brock 1 ; Pitarra, Stephen 1 ; Palmeiro, Preston 1
RBI: Deatherage, Brock 1 ; Palmeiro, Preston 2 ; Shepard, Shane 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pitarra, Stephen 1 ; Mendoza, Evan 1 ; Palmeiro, Preston 1 ; Shepard, Shane 1
SB: McLain, Josh 1
HBP: Deatherage, Brock 1
