Saturday, April 28
Raleigh, N.C.
6:30 p.m.
NC State
31-10, 15-8
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#6 UNC-Chapel Hill
30-13, 17-6
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North Carolina
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NC State
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Photo by: James Guillory
#Pack9’s Late Rally Falls Short Against No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill, 8-6
4/28/2018 11:31:00 PM | Baseball
Wolfpack’s ACC series-win streak snapped at 10
RALEIGH, N.C. – The second-ranked NC State baseball team rallied with three solo home runs in the ninth, but No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill held on for the 8-6 win to clinch the series Saturday evening at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The Wolfpack saw its historic 13 series win streak (10 in ACC play) come to a close with the loss and NC State dropped its first ACC series in more than a year. The Pack won its last four series of 2017 and its first nine series of the year before the series loss against UNC.
NC State moves to 31-10 on the season and 15-8 in ACC play, while UNC-Chapel Hill improves to 30-13 and 17-6 in conference action. Tar Heels starter Austin Bergner earned the win on the mound and is now 5-1, while Brian Brown suffers his first loss of the season (6-1).
Avent's Additions
"I'm so proud of our guys for the way they battled tonight," said head coach Elliott Avent. "That was one of the best pitching performances against us this season and our guys kept competing. I thought you saw a game tonight between two of the best teams in the country."
Quick Hits
- UNC struck first in the contest with three runs in the fourth after a pair of home runs, the first that NC State's Brian Brown has allowed this season.
- The Wolfpack countered in the bottom half of the frame with a couple runs to trim the Tar Heels lead to one following a two-RBI single to left field by Evan Edwards.
- A solo home run by Cody Roberts helped UNC extend the lead to 4-2, but NC State answered with a solo shot from Will Wilson in its next at-bat.
- Wilson crushed the 2-1 pitch from Bergner over the wall in left center for his 11thhomer of the year to narrow the Heels lead to 4-3.
- A wild pitch with the bases loaded extended UNC's lead to 5-3 in the top of seventh and the Tar Heels added three runs in the ninth to open up an 8-3 margin.
- NC State would not go quietly in the ninth, as Wilson led off with a solo homer over the left field wall to record his third multi-homer game of the season with his 12thhome run.
- Edwards followed with a solo blast to right field for his 11thround-tripper of the season and Patrick Bailey followed him with a solo homer, as the Wolfpack hit three consecutive home runs for the first time this season.
- Unfortunately, UNC's Brett Daniels rebounded to retire the next three batters to earn the save and halt the NC State rally.
Inside the Box Score
- Brown was tagged with his first loss since the NCAA Regional Championship last season against Kentucky on June 4, 2017.
- It was the first game that NC State has lost this season when Brown started on the mound, the Wolfpack was 10-0 in his first 10 starts.
- Wilson led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 3-for-4 outing with three runs and two solo home runs.
- Bailey and Edwards each turned in multi-hit performances, while Josh McLain also had a hit to push his hitting streak to 10 games.
On Deck
The Wolfpack and Tar Heels meet in the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The Wolfpack saw its historic 13 series win streak (10 in ACC play) come to a close with the loss and NC State dropped its first ACC series in more than a year. The Pack won its last four series of 2017 and its first nine series of the year before the series loss against UNC.
NC State moves to 31-10 on the season and 15-8 in ACC play, while UNC-Chapel Hill improves to 30-13 and 17-6 in conference action. Tar Heels starter Austin Bergner earned the win on the mound and is now 5-1, while Brian Brown suffers his first loss of the season (6-1).
Avent's Additions
"I'm so proud of our guys for the way they battled tonight," said head coach Elliott Avent. "That was one of the best pitching performances against us this season and our guys kept competing. I thought you saw a game tonight between two of the best teams in the country."
Quick Hits
- UNC struck first in the contest with three runs in the fourth after a pair of home runs, the first that NC State's Brian Brown has allowed this season.
- The Wolfpack countered in the bottom half of the frame with a couple runs to trim the Tar Heels lead to one following a two-RBI single to left field by Evan Edwards.
- A solo home run by Cody Roberts helped UNC extend the lead to 4-2, but NC State answered with a solo shot from Will Wilson in its next at-bat.
- Wilson crushed the 2-1 pitch from Bergner over the wall in left center for his 11thhomer of the year to narrow the Heels lead to 4-3.
- A wild pitch with the bases loaded extended UNC's lead to 5-3 in the top of seventh and the Tar Heels added three runs in the ninth to open up an 8-3 margin.
- NC State would not go quietly in the ninth, as Wilson led off with a solo homer over the left field wall to record his third multi-homer game of the season with his 12thhome run.
- Edwards followed with a solo blast to right field for his 11thround-tripper of the season and Patrick Bailey followed him with a solo homer, as the Wolfpack hit three consecutive home runs for the first time this season.
- Unfortunately, UNC's Brett Daniels rebounded to retire the next three batters to earn the save and halt the NC State rally.
Inside the Box Score
- Brown was tagged with his first loss since the NCAA Regional Championship last season against Kentucky on June 4, 2017.
- It was the first game that NC State has lost this season when Brown started on the mound, the Wolfpack was 10-0 in his first 10 starts.
- Wilson led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 3-for-4 outing with three runs and two solo home runs.
- Bailey and Edwards each turned in multi-hit performances, while Josh McLain also had a hit to push his hitting streak to 10 games.
On Deck
The Wolfpack and Tar Heels meet in the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Austin Bergner (5-1)
L: Brown, Brian (6-1)
S: Brett Daniels (2)
Batting:
HR: Michael Busch 1 ; Kyle Datres 1 ; Cody Roberts 1
RBI: Michael Busch 1 ; Kyle Datres 1 ; Brandon Riley 2 ; Cody Roberts 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dallas Tessar 1 ; Michael Busch 2 ; Kyle Datres 2 ; Brandon Riley 1 ; Cody Roberts 1 ; Zack Gahagan 1
SB: Brandon Riley 1 ; Ike Freeman 1
HBP: Michael Busch 1 ; Kyle Datres 2 ; Cody Roberts 1
Batting:
2B: Wilson, Will 1
HR: Wilson, Will 2 ; Edwards, Evan 1 ; Bailey, Patrick 1
RBI: Wilson, Will 2 ; Edwards, Evan 3 ; Bailey, Patrick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kinneman, Brett 1 ; Wilson, Will 3 ; Edwards, Evan 1 ; Bailey, Patrick 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF
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