Offensive onslaught sends Wolfpack to regional final

NC State has had just about a picture perfect start to the Ruston Regional. Thanks to a great night from the top of the lineup, NC State topped host Louisiana Tech 8-3 Saturday night to start the regional 2-0 and advance to the regional final. 

The game started over two hours late due to a rain dealy, but that didn’t stop the Wolfpack’s offense from continuing its red-hot start to the regional and plating eight runs on 14 hits against Louisiana Tech. The top four in the order led the way, with Austin Murr going 4 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored, Tyler McDonough 2 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs, Jonny Butler 2 for 4 with three RBIs and Terrell Tatum 2 for 4 with a walk. 

Sam Highfill struggled a bit with his command early in this one, especially in a 27-pitch first inning, but ultimately settled in and battled his way through 5.1 scoreless innings against a potent Bulldogs lineup. Highfill allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four. He settled into the middle innings, retiring seventh straight through the third, fourth and fifth. 

Between Highfill Saturday and Reid Johnston Friday, NC State’s starting pitchers have had an exceptional first two games of the regional, allowing just one run over 13.1 innings. 

With runners on first and second and one out in the sixth, Elliott Avent turned to closer Evan Justice for an 11-out save. Justice allowed back-to-back homers to let the Bulldogs to cut their deficit to five in the bottom of the eighth, but those were his lone blemishes as he allowed just three runs on three hits while striking out eight as he closed out the victory in 3.2 innings. 

The Wolfpack wasted little time getting on the board in the top of the first inning. After Murr led off the game with a double and took third on a fly out, Jonny Butler laced a one-out RBI double down the right-field line to make it 1-0. 

The Bull Dogs threatened in the bottom of the inning by putting runners on first and second with one out, but the Wolfpack got the two outs it needed to strand both, including a sharp play by Vojtech Mensik to tag third with his hand for the final out.

The Wolfpack tacked on another run after two lengthy reviews in the top of the third. After Murr and McDonough led off the inning with singles, they appeared to both move into scoring position on a pitch in the dirt. Murr was called out, and the replay seemed to show the beat the tag and was safe. The Wolfpack lost the challenge, however, and he was out. 

A stellar piece of base running by Butler, however, put the Pack up 2-0, as he legged out an infield single to score McDonough, which was upheld after a Bulldogs challenge. 

J.T. Jarrett continued his stellar postseason in the top of the fourth, putting the Wolfpack up 3-0 with a two-out RBI single to left with Devonte Brown on second. 

Highfill again found himself in trouble in the bottom of the sixth, again putting runners on first and second with one out, and, with the team’s starter sitting at 89 pitches, Avent made a call to the pen, bringing in Justice. Justice came in and got his team out of the jam with a strike out and pop out to keep the Pack up 3-0 through six. 

McDonough provided Justice some insurance runs in the top of the seventh, roping a one-out double into left center to bring home Jarrett and Murr and make it a 5-0 ballgame.

McDonough then took third on a wild pitch and came home on a sac fly from Butler to put the Pack up 6-0. Murr continued his scorching night with a two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth, and Jarrett scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-0. 

Those insurance runs loomed large in the bottom of the eighth. After Justice gave up a leadoff single, Steele Netterville and Cole McConnell made it an 8-3 game with back-to-back homers. That was as close as it got, however, as Justice 

NC State needs one more win to take the regional. The Wolfpack will face the winner of Alabama and Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m. Sunday night. A victory would send the team into the Super Regional round for the first time since 2013, and a loss would mean a winner-take-all game against the same opponent on Monday.