Luke Nixon's Walk-Off Single Secures Series Victory Over Notre Dame

Friday, March 29

Raleigh, N.C.

8 p.m.

NC State

17-7, 7-4

Notre Dame

14-11, 2-9

Notre Dame

NC State

Luke Nixon's Walk-Off Single Secures Series Victory Over Notre Dame

3/30/2024 12:55:00 AM | Baseball

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#Pack9 Defeats Notre Dame 7-6 in Friday Night's Contest

RALEIGH, N.C. – Luke Nixon delivered a walk-off single to lift the No. 22 NC State baseball team to a 7-6 win over Notre Dame on Friday night at Doak Field, clinching the weekend series against the Fighting Irish.

After Notre Dame (14-11, 2-9 ACC) tied the score at 6-6 with three runs in the top of the eighth, Luke Nixon provided the late-game heroics with a walk-off single to right field in the bottom of the ninth. Nixon's game-winning single capped off a career night at the plate for the freshman, finishing the evening with a career-high five RBI.

Notre Dame struck first with a run in the top of the third. NC State (17-7, 7-4 ACC) answered when Alec Makarewicz's RBI groundout knotted the score at 1-1.

The Fighting Irish again jumped ahead with two runs in the top of the fourth behind RBI doubles from Carson Tinney and Estevan Moreno. Faced with a 3-1 deficit heading into the sixth inning, the Wolfpack loaded the bases behind a single from Jacob Cozart, a four-pitch walk from Eli Serrano III and a single from Drew Lanphere. Luke Nixon then strode to the plate with one out and lined a grand slam over the right-field wall to vault the Wolfpack ahead for the first time on Friday night at 5-3.

Josh Hogue's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh extended the Pack's lead to 6-3.

Notre Dame tied the score at 6-6 in the eighth and still had the bases loaded with just one out. Left-hander John Miralia retired the one batter he faced in the bases-loaded jam to put two down in the inning. Shane Van Dam then left three Notre Dame baserunners stranded with a strikeout to keep the score tied.

Van Dam (3-0) earned the win after tossing a scoreless ninth prior to Luke Nixon's walk-off single in the bottom half. Notre Dame reliever Caden Spivey (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing two runs over 2.1 innings pitched.

Luke Nixon paced NC State with five RBI, while Cozart ranked first among Wolfpack batters with three hits and two runs scored.

UP NEXT
NC State looks to complete the weekend sweep over the Fighting Irish in Saturday's series finale at Doak Field at Dail Park. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ACC Network Extra.