NC State clinches series with another 6-4 win over FSU

Florida State may have the deeper pitching staff, but so far NC State’s deeper lineup has been the difference in this series. The Wolfpack did not need Luca Tresh’s heroics this time around, scoring what would be the game-winning runs in the fifth inning.

Tresh homered twice on Thursday but was 0-4 with three strikeouts on Friday, but the thing is, NC State has more than enough star power to overcome a night off from a guy in the middle of the order. The top of the lineup was outstanding, as Austin Murr went 2-5, Tyler McDonough was 2-2 with a walk, and Jonny Butler was 4-4. Murr and McDonough combined to score all six of the Wolfpack’s runs.

Playing from behind early, it was McDonough’s two-run home run in the bottom of the first that knotted the score, and the Pack got the go-ahead runs in the fifth on a Terrell Tatum infield single and a wild pitch.

McDonough was good at the dish but made the play of the night in the field, leaping to snag a well-hit ball into the right-center gap.

On the mound, Sam Highfill was solid if frequently in trouble, finishing the night with three runs allowed in six innings pitched. Dalton Feeney kept FSU off the board in the seventh, and Elliott Avent turned to Evan Justice for a two-out save after that. Justice allowed a solo shot but otherwise didn’t have much trouble finishing off the Seminoles.

The Pack is up to 19-13 in ACC play and thanks to events elsewhere, will be the No. 3 seed in the ACC tournament. The FSU series concludes on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.