Let's Goooo

Garrett Pennington launched a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to power the No. 22 NC State baseball team to a 7-6 walk-off victory over Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park. Pennington's walk-off homer completed the three-game sweep over the Fighting Irish and marked NC State's fifth walk-off win of the season.

David Glancy's two-run homer broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the ninth to give Notre Dame (14-12, 2-10 ACC) a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Chase Nixon sparked the ninth-inning rally with a one-out single. After Luke Nixon beat out a potential game-ending double play ball, Brandon Butterworth singled to center field to bring the winning run to the plate with two outs. Pennington worked into a hitter's count at 3-1 before crushing his game-winning home run over the left-field wall.

Pennington's walk-off home run capped off a 4-for-5 day at the plate with four RBI, three runs scored and two home runs. He has notched two of the Wolfpack's walk-off hits this season, opening ACC play with a walk-off single against Boston College earlier this month.

NC State (18-7, 8-4 ACC) completed its second ACC sweep with three straight victories over the Fighting Irish. The Wolfpack has won back-to-back conference series and improved its home record to 16-3 on the season, highlighted by an 8-1 mark in ACC play at Doak Field.

Notre Dame struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Glancy and Connor Hincks drove in runs for the Fighting Irish as the visitors took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the third.

Pennington cut the Wolfpack's deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff solo shot to left-center. Pennington's homer marked his sixth of the season.

The Fighting Irish answered Pennington's solo homer with two runs in the top of the fifth. Glancy's two-out RBI single made it 3-1 before Jack Penney's bases-loaded walk extended Notre Dame's lead to 4-1.

NC State again trimmed Notre Dame's lead to one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Butterworth led off the inning with a walk before Pennington singled to left field and Alec Makarewicz reached via a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Jacob Cozart and Josh Hogue each recorded an RBI groundout to cut Notre Dame's advantage to 4-3.

Hogue tied the score at 4-4 two innings later with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. Makarewicz's one-out single sparked the rally before he stole second to get into scoring position. Hogue then lined a 1-0 pitch into center field to knot the score at four apiece.

Derrick Smith (2-0) earned the pitching victory, while Notre Dame's Ricky Reeth suffered the loss.

NC State reliever Shane Van Dam tossed 3.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts. Wolfpack starting pitcher Dominic Fritton tossed 4.1 innings, limiting the Fighting Irish to two hits with five strikeouts.

UP NEXT
NC State baseball closes out its four-game home stretch against No. 15 East Carolina on Tuesday night at Doak Field at Dail Park. The Wolfpack's midweek matchup against the Pirates is set for 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.



https://gopack.com/news/2024/3/30/baseball-penningtons-walk-off-homer-powers-22-wolfpack-to-series-sweep-of-notre-dame

1-9 this team is legit. If they can figure out the rotation and find 3-4 guys they can rely on out of the pen every weekend they have a chance to do some things.