NC State drops series at FSU

For the second straight night, NC State was walked off in extras on a two-strike mistake. In game two, Florida State took the series when Johnny Piedmonte’s 0-2 fastball in didn’t get in far enough, and Reese Albert turned on it and deposited the ill-fated ball over the rightfield fence. The three-run shot made the final score 6-3.

State struck first on solo shots by Will Wilson and Brock Deatherage in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. Deatherage went yard for a second time with two outs in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. All six of NC State’s runs in the first two games have come via the long ball.

Brian Brown was having a nice outing until he ran into trouble in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. The senior lefty was not allowed to work out of the jam despite being below 100 pitches on the evening. Nolan Clenney came on and his struggles in ACC play continued, as he allowed back-to-back hits that scored all three inherited runners. Brown ended up being charged for three earned runs after he had left the bump; he gave up four hits, walked two, and fanned six. His pitch count, while not overly high, was pushed up by a Pack defense that committed five errors behind him (though all six Seminole runs for the game were earned).

It was a rough day for the Pack pen, which allowed six hits, four walks, and hit two batters in 3.2 innings pitched.

C.J. Van Eyk got the win out of the Noles’ pen for the second straight night to move to 6-0 on the season. Andrew Karp worked eight strong innings, striking out seven without allowing a walk, but had to settle for a no decision after Jonah Scolaro blew the save on Deatherage’s blast in the ninth.

Deatherage finished with three hits and a stolen base for the Pack, raising his average to .313. His 14 home runs trail only Brett Kinneman for the team lead (16).

NC State will try to salvage a game in the series—and get to 40 regular season wins—in Saturday’s finale at 1 p.m.