Wolfpack clinches series win over Clemson with 8-3 Sunday victory

The month of April was not a kind one for the NC State baseball team. Entering the month at 27-2 overall and 10-2 in ACC play, all things were looking great for the Wolfpack. By the time April 29 rolled around, an off month had left the Pack at 33-12 overall and 14-10 in conference.

An eight-game home stand presented an opportunity for the Wolfpack to get things right, and with that home stand now wrapped up, that’s exactly what State did.

A 6-2 (2-1) record in that stretch, including outscoring opponents by a combined score of 52-25, and the Wolfpack enter the regular season finale series at UNC-Chapel Hill with an outside chance to host an NCAA regional. A big reason for that is the ACC series win over Clemson that the Wolfpack wrapped up on Sunday afternoon.

NC State won the series opener 6-1, then dropped an extra-innings game on Saturday by a score of 4-3. The rubber match figured to be a tight one, but the Pack were able to hold a lead throughout the entire game in securing the victory.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, the Wolfpack used three walks, a Patrick Bailey RBI single, and a wild pitch to get out to an early 3-0 lead. Clemson strung together three singles in the 2nd to cut the Wolfpack lead to 3-1. NC State got that run back in the 4th thanks to a Brad Debo leadoff double and a Dillon Cooper RBI single.

The 6th inning saw State extend the lead out to 7-1. Devonte Brown walked, Cooper then took his spot on a fielder’s choice. J.T. Jarrett singled and was followed by a Jonny Butler double that scored both Cooper and Jarrett. Wilson then singled to drive in Butler and make it a 7-1 ballgame.

Clemson’s Michael Green hit a two-run home run in the 7th inning to cut the State lead down to 7-3, but that would be the last time that the Tigers crossed the plate in the game.

A Jarrett single, Butler fielder’s choice, and Wilson double in the 8th put the score at its final tally of 8-3.

Jarrett posted a four-hit effort on the day, while Wilson went 3-for-4 with a double, walk, run, and two RBI. Butler was 1-for-4 with a double, walk, three runs scored, and two RBI. Evan Edwards walked three times and scored a run in his Senior Day effort.

On the mound, this was the second time in the last four games that the Wolfpack pitching staff went the entire game without issuing a walk. David Harrison (3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K) got the start on the mound, while Cameron Cotter (3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HBP, 5 K) earned the win in relief. Evan Justice faced one batter in finishing off the 7th inning, and Dalton Feeney (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 K) pitched the 8th and 9th innings in a non-save situation to close out the game.

NC State finishes off the regular season with a series at UNC-Chapel Hill that kicks off on Thursday evening.