NC State
35-20
Georgia Tech (ACC Championship)
36-23
Deatherage Lifts Pack to 7-5 Win in Extras
5/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
No. 13 NC State baseball escapes with 12-inning victory
The Wolfpack (35-20) built a 3-0 lead in the second on back-to-back homers from Brett Kinneman and Chance Shepard. Georgia Tech (36-23) responded with five runs in the fourth.
Trailing 5-3 with a runner on in the top ninth, NC State's chances dwindled to one final out. Shane Shepard pinch hit and a dropped fly ball in center gave the Pack new life. With two runners on, Stephen Pitarra drove a two-RBI single up the middle to send the game into extras. Brock Deatherage parked a two-run shot to left in the top 12th to set the final 7-5.
Shepard and Kinneman's consecutive homers are the first since Deatherage and Shepard homered in back-to-back at-bats at Georgia Tech on April 17 this year. With the win, NC State avoids suffering what would have been the program's first three-game sweep since pool play began in 2007.
Deatherage finished the game 1-for-5 with two RBIs and a run on his fifth homer of the year. Kinneman's two-run bomb to left represented his fifth of the year as well. Shepard's marked his 13th of the season.
Preston Palmeiro reached base five times on three walks, a single, and his 20th double of the year. Joe Dunand singled to lead off the 12th, scoring on Deatherage's homer. Andrew Knizner scored once with a single.
Wolfpack starter Brian Brown took a no-hitter into the fourth before leaving the game after five earned on six hits and a walks, striking out five. Chris Williams pitched a near flawless four innings next, fanning a pair and scattering three hits. Austin Staley pitched a perfect ninth. Will Gilbert (4-1) scored the win after holding on through two extra innings with two hits and a walk. Johnny Piedmonte struck out the side in the 12th to record his first career save.
NC State awaits the announcement of regional hosting sites Sunday at 8:30 PM released on Twitter by @NCAACWS.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gilbert, Will (4-1)
L: Dulaney, B (2-5)
S: Piedmonte, Johnny (1)
Batting:
2B: Palmeiro, Preston 1
HR: Deatherage, Brock 1 ; Kinneman, Brett 1 ; Shepard, Chance 1
RBI: Pitarra, Stephen 2 ; Deatherage, Brock 2 ; Kinneman, Brett 2 ; Shepard, Chance 1
SH: Dunand, Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dunand, Joe 1 ; Deatherage, Brock 1 ; Knizner, Andrew 1 ; Kinneman, Brett 1 ; Shepard, Chance 1 ; Edwards , Storm 1 ; DeJuneas, Tommy 1
HBP: Knizner, Andrew 1
Batting:
2B: English, T 1 ; Stallings, B 1
3B: Craport, T 1
RBI: English, T 1 ; Craport, T 1 ; Bart, J 1
SH: Bailey, W 1 ; Craport, T 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bailey, W 1 ; Gonzalez, M 1 ; Johnson, K 1 ; English, T 1 ; Craport, T 1
HBP: Justus, C 1
