Saturday, June 1
Raleigh, N.C.
6 p.m.
NC State
35-20
6
vs
4
South Carolina
37-24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
South Carolina
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
0
4
7
1
NC State
1
0
2
0
1
0
1
1
X
6
8
0
Photo by: Gregg Forwerck
#Pack9 Advances to Regional Final With 6-4 Win Over Second-Seeded South Carolina
6/1/2024 10:06:00 PM | Baseball
Wolfpack Faces Winner of South Carolina, JMU at 6 p.m. on Sunday
RALEIGH, N.C. – Top-seeded NC State advanced to the NCAA Raleigh Regional final with a 6-4 win over second-seeded South Carolina in front of a sold-out crowd Saturday night at Doak Field.
After South Carolina (37-24) knotted the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh behind a two-run homer from Dylan Brewer, NC State (35-20) answered with a bases-loaded walk from freshman Alex Sosa to take a 5-4 lead. NC State leadoff batter Eli Serrano III led off the inning with a single before two more walks loaded the bases, bringing Sosa up to the plate with two outs in the inning. The Wolfpack designated hitter worked the count to 3-1 before taking the fifth pitch of his at-bat for the go-ahead run.
The Wolfpack added an insurance run in the bottom of eighth when South Carolina catcher Cole Messina's throw to third base hit off Matt Heavner's helmet, allowing Heavner to get to his feet and speed home for a 6-4 Wolfpack lead.
Wolfpack reliever Derrick Smith nailed down his sixth save to punch NC State's ticket to the Regional final. Smith entered with one out in the eighth and recorded the final five outs for the save, striking out four and allowing just one hit in the standout performance.
Garrett Pennington put NC State ahead 1-0 in the first with his first of two homers on the night. Pennington's drive to left field marked his 15th homer of the season. South Carolina shortstop Will Tippett tied the score at 1-1 with a solo shot of his own in the third.
Pennington vaulted NC State back in front with his second homer of the night, driving a two-run opposite field shot to make it 3-1 Wolfpack. The Gamecocks cut their deficit back to one when Brewer smacked his first homer of the night in the fifth. Serrano III responded to Brewer's solo shot with one of his own in the bottom half, making it 4-2 after the first five frames.
NC State starting pitcher Dominic Fritton tossed five innings while allowing just three hits and two runs in his first NCAA Tournament start, striking out three Gamecocks. Left-handed freshman reliever Cooper Consiglio (5-4) also made his NCAA Tournament debut with 2.1 innings out of the bullpen, earning the win after striking out two batters over 2.1 innings pitched.
Serrano III paced the Wolfpack with three hits and three runs scored. Pennington led the Pack with two homers and three RBI.
NC State turned three double plays in the victory, all of which involved the glovework of shortstop Brandon Butterworth. Butterworth snagged a line drive and tossed to second baseman Matt Heavner for a key double play in the top of the sixth. South Carolina opened the sixth with a walk and a single before Butterworth snared Kennedy Jones' line drive and started the Pack's second of three double plays.
UP NEXT
NC State advances to the Raleigh Regional final on Sunday night at Doak Field. The Wolfpack will play the winner of second-seeded South Carolina and third-seeded James Madison at 6 p.m. The Gamecocks and Dukes will face off at noon in an elimination game.
After South Carolina (37-24) knotted the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh behind a two-run homer from Dylan Brewer, NC State (35-20) answered with a bases-loaded walk from freshman Alex Sosa to take a 5-4 lead. NC State leadoff batter Eli Serrano III led off the inning with a single before two more walks loaded the bases, bringing Sosa up to the plate with two outs in the inning. The Wolfpack designated hitter worked the count to 3-1 before taking the fifth pitch of his at-bat for the go-ahead run.
The Wolfpack added an insurance run in the bottom of eighth when South Carolina catcher Cole Messina's throw to third base hit off Matt Heavner's helmet, allowing Heavner to get to his feet and speed home for a 6-4 Wolfpack lead.
Wolfpack reliever Derrick Smith nailed down his sixth save to punch NC State's ticket to the Regional final. Smith entered with one out in the eighth and recorded the final five outs for the save, striking out four and allowing just one hit in the standout performance.
Garrett Pennington put NC State ahead 1-0 in the first with his first of two homers on the night. Pennington's drive to left field marked his 15th homer of the season. South Carolina shortstop Will Tippett tied the score at 1-1 with a solo shot of his own in the third.
Pennington vaulted NC State back in front with his second homer of the night, driving a two-run opposite field shot to make it 3-1 Wolfpack. The Gamecocks cut their deficit back to one when Brewer smacked his first homer of the night in the fifth. Serrano III responded to Brewer's solo shot with one of his own in the bottom half, making it 4-2 after the first five frames.
NC State starting pitcher Dominic Fritton tossed five innings while allowing just three hits and two runs in his first NCAA Tournament start, striking out three Gamecocks. Left-handed freshman reliever Cooper Consiglio (5-4) also made his NCAA Tournament debut with 2.1 innings out of the bullpen, earning the win after striking out two batters over 2.1 innings pitched.
Serrano III paced the Wolfpack with three hits and three runs scored. Pennington led the Pack with two homers and three RBI.
NC State turned three double plays in the victory, all of which involved the glovework of shortstop Brandon Butterworth. Butterworth snagged a line drive and tossed to second baseman Matt Heavner for a key double play in the top of the sixth. South Carolina opened the sixth with a walk and a single before Butterworth snared Kennedy Jones' line drive and started the Pack's second of three double plays.
UP NEXT
NC State advances to the Raleigh Regional final on Sunday night at Doak Field. The Wolfpack will play the winner of second-seeded South Carolina and third-seeded James Madison at 6 p.m. The Gamecocks and Dukes will face off at noon in an elimination game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Consiglio, Cooper (5-4)
L: Connor McCreery (3-1)
S: Smith, Derrick (6)
Batting:
2B: Talmadge LeCroy 1
HR: Dylan Brewer 2 ; Will Tippett 1
RBI: Dylan Brewer 3 ; Will Tippett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Talmadge LeCroy 1 ; Dylan Brewer 2 ; Will Tippett 1
PO: Cole Messina 1
Batting:
2B: Butterworth, Brandon 1
HR: Serrano III, Eli 1 ; Pennington, Garrett 2
RBI: Serrano III, Eli 1 ; Pennington, Garrett 3 ; Sosa, Alex 1
SH: Soles, Noah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Serrano III, Eli 3 ; Pennington, Garrett 2 ; Heavner, Matt 1
SB: Pennington, Garrett 1 ; Nixon, Luke 1
HBP: Nixon, Luke 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballAuburn Regional Preview: Elliott Avent on ACC PM
Thursday, May 29
Game Three Press Conference: Athens Super Regional
Tuesday, June 11
Game Two Press Conference: Athens Super Regional
Sunday, June 09
Game One Press Conference - Athens Super Regional
Saturday, June 08