Despite plating three runs in the eighth and putting the game-tying run at the plate in the ninth to force extra innings, No. 4 NC State baseball (8-3) came up short to Northeastern (5-5) in the second game of its series, 8-5.
With the result, the Wolfpack drops the series and snaps its streak of 19 consecutive nonconference series wins.
Northeastern was able to take an early 2-0 lead after scoring two runs on as many hits in the second inning. With runners in scoring position following a Mark Darakjy leadoff single, Spenser Smith two-out walk and sac bunt by Teddy Beaudet, Luke Beckstein's 2-RBI single up the middle drove the runners in.
NC State tied things up in the fifth, making it 2-2.
Will Marcy started the side with a single deep in the gap to the shortstop, and then a defensive miscue in an attempt to get the force out at second allowed
Noah Soles to reach and put two on base. The next at bat
Payton Green laced a single to right field to plate Marcy, and then Soles scored from third on a double play.
The Huskies regained their lead in the seventh with two more runs, giving them a 4-2 advantage. Max Viera roped a two-out double to left center to get things started in the frame, and then after Darakjy drew a walk Corey DiLoreto doubled to left center to allow the runners to cross home plate.
In the eighth Northeastern plated four more runs on three run-scoring singles and a failed pickoff attempt with runners at the corners, extending its lead to 8-2. In the bottom frame Marcy belted his second home run of the year to left field after
LuJames Groover III and
Dominic Pilolli both reached on outfield singles, cutting the Pack's deficit to 8-5.
The Pack looked to rally in the ninth when
Devonte Brown drew a one-out walk and
Tommy White laced a two-out single to left field to bring the tying run to the plate, but a force out at third ended the game.
Groover turned in his eighth multi-hit game of the year with a 3-for-5 outing, while Marcy turned in his third multi-hit performance and second multi-RBI game of the year.
On the mound,
Matt Willadsen battled for six complete innings, surrendering two earned runs on seven hits while fanning six to keep the Pack in the game. Additionally,
Justin Lawson tossed a season-long two innings to close out the contest and did not give up a run.
NC State and Northeastern will play the series finale Sunday at 12 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX and there will be an audio stream on just the Varsity Network App until the conclusion of the ACC Women's Basketball Championship game, and then the stream will become available on WKNC 88.1.
https://gopack.com/news/2022/3/5/baseball-pack9-comes-up-short-to-northeastern.aspx