Makarewicz's Grand Slam Powers Pack Past Cardinals

No. 21 NC State (23-16, 12-9 ACC) opened its three-game series against Ball State (25-16-1, 12-9 MAC) Friday evening at Doak Field with a dominat victory, 10-2.

Alec Makarewicz gave the Wolfpack a huge lift in the fourth inning as the third baseman welcomed Cardinal reliever Lucas Letsinger into the game by drilling his first pitch into the NC State bullpen after Letsinger’s predecessor, Merritt Beeker (6-3, 5.23 ERA), left three runners on base for him. The grand slam made it a seven-run lead for the Pack to that point, making it a foregone conclusion that Beeker would be tagged with the loss.

Sam Highfill (4-1, 4.91 ERA) earned the win after six inning in which he struck out six batters while allowing both Ball State runs on five hits and three walks. After 90 pitches thrown, the Apex, N.C. native gave way to Ryan Marohn who picked up his first collegiate save after three shutout innings, yielding one hit on 45 pitches thrown.

The Pack jumped ahead early with the first run scored in the bottom of the first inning. Eli Serrano, III started the frame by scampering to second base on a pop fly dropped by Cardinal center fielder Nick Gregory. After Josh Hogue bunted him to third base, Serrano scored on a wild pitch by Beeker. One inning later, NC State added another run as Matt Heavner drove Jacob Cozart home on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

Two more Wolfpackers crossed home plate in the third inning. Garrett Pennington started the inning much like how the first began: reaching base via error, this time by third baseman Dylan Grego. Three batters later, Cozart singled through the right side, allowing Pennington to race around the diamond to score. After a double by Brandon Butterworth and a walk to Chase Nixon, Luke Nixon was issued a free pass by Beeker, bringing Cozart home. Ball State managed to crack onto the scoreboard in the next half-inning as an RBI double by Grego brought first baseman Blake Bevis home, but NC State responded quickly thereafter.

The bottom of the fourth inning began with Serrano doubling to right-center field, followed by walks to Pennington and Hogue. After the Cards’ pitching change, Makarewicz clobbered his 17^th home run of the season, the aforementioned grand slam. The score would hold at 8-1 until the sixth inning when both teams would bring runners home again.

After a pair of quick outs in the frame by Highfill, Bevis connected on his ninth homer of the year. In the bottom of the frame, Cozart led off with a walk before a fielder’s choice by Butterworth replaced him. Butterworth then swiped his seventh base of the season, putting him in scoring position for Chase Nixon who slapped a single into left field, driving the Pack’s shortstop home to make it a 9-2 lead. The final run of the game came one inning later as Hogue drove Serrano to the plate on a base hit to right field.

The Wolfpack will look to secure the series win over the Cardinals as the teams return to the diamond on Saturday. First pitch from Doak Field is set for 3 p.m.