NC State Baseball Comes Up Short Against Campbell, 9-8

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State baseball team had the tying run at third base and the go-ahead run at the plate, but came up short against the Campbell Camels, 9-8, Tuesday evening at Doak Field at Dail Park.

The Wolfpack falls to 12-10 on the year, while Campbell improves to 9-12. Andrew Witczak picked up the win and Christian Demby was hit with the loss.

Game Recap
Campbell struck first in the contest with three runs in the second inning after a solo home run from Christian Jones and a two-run blast by Matthew Barefoot. The Camels stretched the lead to 5-0 in the top of the third following a homer by Cole Hallum and an RBI double by Kyle Mehl.

Josh McLain helped NC State cut the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the third with his second home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left field wall.

The Camels countered with a pair of runs in the fourth to extend their advantage to 7-2, but the Wolfpack used a big sixth inning to cut the Campbell lead to 7-5.

Will Wilson walked to lead off the frame and Brett Kinneman followed with a single up the middle. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Stephen Pitarra ripped a single through the right side to plate both runners. Dillon Cooper reached on an infield single to score Pitarra later in the inning, narrowing the deficit to 7-5.

NC State had the bases loaded with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, but could not get a run out of it as Campbell relief pitcher Wyatt Tyson got a strikeout and a double play to escape the jam.

Campbell took that momentum into the top of the eighth, as the squad added two insurance runs, which proved to be the difference in the game.

The Wolfpack nearly pulled off the comeback in the bottom of the ninth, as NC State tallied four hits, scored three runs and had the tying on third base when the game ended.

Inside the Box Score
- Pitarra led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance, highlighted by three RBI, a double and a run scored.
- Kinneman was 2-for-2 at the dish with two runs scored and Cooper was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Brad Debo turned in a 2-for-5 performance, while Andy Cosgrove, McLain and Wilson had one hit apiece.

On the Mound
- Demby started on the mound for NC State and pitched 2.1 innings before handing the ball to Mathieu Gauthier, who pitched the next 1.2 innings.
- Cody Beckman took over for Gauthier and threw two shutout innings with a strikeout.
- Austin Staley entered the game for Beckman and pitched the next two innings, allowing two runs on two hits.
- Tim Naughton closed out the game for the Wolfpack, pitching the ninth inning.

Up Next
NC State will return to action this weekend when it hosts the top-ranked Louisville Cardinals in a three-game series. Friday's game is set for 6:30 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park. Limited general admission tickets remain for the series.

NC State Baseball Comes Up Short Against Campbell, 9-8

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Team Stats

Stephen Pitarra

Brett Kinneman

Brad Debo

Dillon Cooper

Players Mentioned

Cody Beckman

Dillon Cooper

Andy Cosgrove

Brad Debo

Christian Demby

Mathieu Gauthier

Brett Kinneman

Josh McLain

Tim Naughton

Stephen Pitarra

Austin Staley

Will Wilson

Players Mentioned

Cody Beckman

Dillon Cooper

Andy Cosgrove

Brad Debo

Christian Demby

Mathieu Gauthier

Brett Kinneman

Josh McLain

Tim Naughton

Stephen Pitarra

Austin Staley

Will Wilson