Wolfpack Falls to Wake Forest 14-11

WINSTON SALEM, NC – On Friday, the NC State Wolfpack (21-14, ACC 13-13) outslugged the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (15-21, ACC 7-18) 13-7 in their first meeting of a three-game weekend series. The Wolfpack hoped to keep the hot bats rolling after hitting five home runs last night in the opener against the Deacons. Despite a last-minute Wolfpack comeback, the Deacons would ultimately hold on, to take game two on Saturday, May 1st by a score of 14-11. 

The Deacons entering the game were coming off a four-homer night themselves and were able to carry Friday night’s momentum into Saturday’s game. Resulting in eight runs in the first two innings. By the top of the sixth inning, the game looked over, with Wake Forest leading 9-2. NC State’s pitching was wavering, and their bullpen was looking thin. However, a grand slam by third baseman Devonte Brown brought the Pack right back into the ballgame. 

Demon Deacon’s pitching started to break down in the seventh as Butler was hit by a pitch. The momentum began to swing in the Wolfpack’s direction as they could close the gap with the score at 9-8. But a costly error in the bottom of the eighth allowed the Demon Deacons to score two runs off a Lucas Costello single to expand the lead to 11-8. 

Lucas Costello scored off a walk by Dalton Freeney, making it 12-8. Another single from Chris Lanzili opened up the Deamon Deacons lead to 14-8. 

In the ninth inning, the Wolfpack tried to rally, with Tatum scoring off a walk to cut the lead to 14-9. A two-RBI single from Tyler McDonough brought the deficit down to three at 14-11. The Deamon Deacons brought in reliever Eric Adler to stunt the Pack’s comeback hopes. He made an instant impact striking out Luca Tresh to end the ball game. Adler was the winning pitcher putting him at 2-1 on the year, while Matt Willadsen took the Wolfpack loss.

The Pack still have a chance to take the series from their ACC rival as the two will battle Sunday, May 2nd at noon.