Pack Splits Doubleheader, Wins BC Series

NC State split a double-header against Boston College at home Saturday, rallying to win the first game at Doak Field at Dail Park, 13-7, before dropping the latter half of the twin bill, 11-3.

With the split, the Wolfpack is now 13-3 on the campaign and 2-1 in league play. NC State also came from behind to win the series opener Friday.

The Wolfpack entered the second game of the day looking to go 14-2 overall and 3-0 in the ACC for the first time since 2014.

The Eagles are 45-75 in ACC regular season games since 2014 but has been more than competitive with NC State over that span. Nine of the Boston College’s 45 regular season conference wins over the past five years have been against the Wolfpack, including a 5-4 mark in Raleigh.

It was ALS Awareness Day at the park Saturday, marking the second straight season the two schools have raised funds and awareness for ALS research following a corresponding fixture at Fenway Park between the teams in 2017.

“Boston College, their coaching staff forever has done a good job up there,’ NC State head coach Elliott Avent said. “They have always done a good job. It is a great place. They add a lot to our league.

“We have developed a kind of kinship in playing that game in Fenway last year and it is a great testament to what they do up there to be willing to do some things with us as we try to promote Team Chris Combs and try to find a cure for such a dreaded, absolutely horrific disease.”

The Wolfpack trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom half of the second. Shane Shepard got the team on the scoreboard with a two-run blast to left in the frame. The Eagles added a run to extend their lead to 4-2 but NC State tied it in its half of the third inning.

Brett Kinneman started the action in the bottom of the fourth. His single up the middle drove in Josh McLain to hand NC State an advantage it would not relinquish. Brad Debo pushed a base hit through the left side and score Kinneman. Dillon Cooper later singled with two outs in the frame to drive home both Debo and Will Wilson.

Wilson, who hit the game-winning homer Friday, finished 4-of-5 at the plate with two runs batted in to lead the Wolfpack in the first game of the day. Debo and freshman second baseman J.T. Jarrett each had three hits for the Wolfpack.

Nick Swiney pitched three innings of relief, allowing two runs on four hits, and picked up the victory to improve to 2-0 for the campaign. Kent Klyman hurled two frames of scoreless ball to earn his second save of the season.

NC State used four pitchers in the first game of the day. The quartet  combined for 7.1 innings of work. Seven players pitched in relief for the Wolfpack in the nightcap.

“We are down in the bullpen a little bit right now,” Avent said. “We had some guys step up but we knew we were a little thin. For that third game we needed a good start and we didn’t get it.”

Boston College jumped out in front of the Wolfpack early in the second contest as well. The Eagles used a pair of singles from Jake Palomaki and Dante Baldelli to open the game with runners in scoring position in the first inning with no outs. A couple of groundouts later and the visitors led 2-0 in the first inning for the second consecutive game.

The second time around Boston College poured it on however. In the top of the third inning the Eagles pushed across seven runs in the frame to chase NC State starter David Harrison.

Harrison went two and one-third innings, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on six hits. The left-handed freshman from Rocky Mount, North Carolina walked two and hit a batter while fanning one. He dropped to 0-2 on the season with the loss.

Brian Rapp improved to 2-1 on the season with the win. The Boston College senior righty threw 102 pitches, 60 for strikes. Rapp allowed no runs on two hits and five walks while striking out eight batters.

Kinneman homered for the ninth time of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning of the nightcap to prevent a shutout.  

Debo then blasted a two-run bomb over the wall in left-center in NC State’s half of the ninth. It was his first home run of the campaign.

The Wolfpack will host UNC-Asheville for a two-game set beginning Tuesday. NC State will then travel to Clemson for a three-game series with its Atlantic Division rival starting Friday.

“Asheville is a really good team,” Kinneman said. “They are playing really well. They went down to Florida State last week and competed all three games so that will be a nice challenge for us midweek.

“We are looking to just get some wins midweek and get a little momentum going next weekend going down to Clemson, just cleaning some things up and play good baseball going in to the weekend.”