Wolfpack ends skid, tops UNCW on the road, 14-7

NC State jumped out to an early lead Tuesday night, worked through a UNCW comeback attempt, and then poured on more runs late to salt the game away. The 14-7 win puts the Wolfpack at 30-8 overall heading into a road series with Wake Forest.

The Wolfpack plated five runs over the first two innings thanks to a Tyler McDonough RBI single, a David Vazquez RBI sacrifice fly, and a bases loaded Terrell Tatum walk in the 1st and a two-run Will Wilson home run in the 2nd. The home run was Wilson’s team-leading 13th on the year.

Wilson was injured on the home run when he collided with the UNCW first baseman while rounding the bag. Due to the low quality broadcast, it couldn’t be determined what exactly happened or if the collision was intentional on behalf of the UNCW player, Doug Angeli; however, NC State pitcher Cam Cotter threw the first pitch of Angeli’s subsequent at-bat up and over his head (it ended up hitting Angeli’s bat for a foul ball), resulting in warnings being issued for both teams. Wilson was replaced in the game the following inning by J.T. Jarrett. Hopefully Wilson will miss minimal time with the injury.

The game stayed at 5-0 until the bottom of the 5th when the Seahawks would plate three runs on two walks, a single, and a double. NC State responded immediately in the top of the 6th, scoring four runs on a Jonny Butler RBI double and a Brad Debo three-run home run.

UNCW would capitalize in the bottom of the 6th with a grand slam to close the gap to just two. A double and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Seahawks 9-hole hitter Noah Bridges, who went deep to right-center field to cut into the Wolfpack lead.

The score remained 9-7 until the 8th inning when NC State would cushion it’s lead with a three-run Evan Edwards home run - his 11th of the year - and a Lawson McArthur RBI triple. The Wolfpack pushed across the final run of the game in the 9th when J.T. Jarrett bunted home Mensik.

Edwards had a monster game for the Pack, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, 3 runs, and 3 RBI, while also being intentionally walked twice (respect). Jarrett was the only other Wolfpack hitter with multiple base knocks on the day, reaching on a pair of singles. NC State hitters worked ten walks in the game.

On the mound, Cam Cotter (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K), David Harrison (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K), Nick Swiney (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 6 K), and Alec Barger (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) all looked fantastic with Cotter and Harrison keeping the bats quiet to start the game and Swiney and Barger shutting things down at the end of the game.

NC State returns to action Thursday evening with a 6:00pm first pitch against the Demon Deacons.