Liberty Uses Three-Run Ninth Inning to Beat NC State

Tuesday, March 31

Raleigh, NC

6 p.m.

NC State

18-11

Liberty

19-9

Liberty

NC State

Liberty Uses Three-Run Ninth Inning to Beat NC State

3/31/2026 11:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – After trailing heading into the bottom of the eighth, NC State scored twice to take a 5-4 lead into the final inning. The visiting Liberty Flames, in the top of the ninth, used three singles to score three runs and stun the Wolfpack 7-5 Tuesday night at Doak Field.

The loss marks the seventh consecutive defeat for NC State, the longest losing streak since the 2009 season.

The tide seemed to have turned for the Wolfpack (18-11) in the eighth, as Luke Nixon drove in Chris McHugh with a triple, and Nixon scored on a Sherman Johnson sacrifice fly, making it 5-4 and leaving them three outs from victory.

Danny Heintz (0-1) came in to try and seal the win, but a leadoff walk started the Liberty rally. With one out, a single, and an error, runners were on the corners, but Heintz struck out the next batter on three pitches.

After the strikeout, on the first pitch of the next at-bat, the Flames tied the game with a soft single to left field. After a hit batter, the bases were loaded, and the third hit of the inning brought in two runs to give Liberty the lead.

The Pack totaled five hits on the night, with three of their five runs scored by the top three hitters in the lineup. Vincent DeCarlo, in his second start of the season behind the dish, had a hit and his fourth RBI of the season, along with a walk.

Luke Hemric started on the mound for the Wolfpack and pitched another solid game. Hemric went a career-best five and a third innings, striking out seven, with just one walk, one hit, and two runs allowed.

Sam Harris and Ryder Garino came on after Hemric. Garino pitched two and a third innings and had six strikeouts, allowing one run on two hits—a home run by Liberty in the top of the eighth that briefly gave the visitors a 4-3 lead.

The Pack scored first with two runs in the fifth, as a ground ball by Dalton Bargo scored Ty Head, who had walked for the 26th time this season and advanced to third on a Frassman walk and a stolen base. Frassman scored on DeCarlo's RBI single in a 3-2 count.

The Wolfpack's lead didn't last long, as the Flames scored three runs in the sixth to take the lead.

Rett Johnson caused havoc on the bases to tie the game again, starting the inning with a single. After an obstruction call and a grounder, he reached third base. Johnson then scored on a passed ball, tying the game.

The loss marks the first time this season that NC State led after the eighth inning and still lost. The Pack will look to end their losing streak when Notre Dame visits Raleigh starting Thursday, April 2nd, at 6 p.m. for a three-game ACC series at Doak Field.