Pack9 downs UNCW in Wilmington, 14-4

NC State puts an end to the three-game skid with an impressive performance

Make it seven straight games that NC State’s opponent has scored first, but for the fourth time in that span, the Wolfpack were able to overcome the early deficit to come away with the win. In this case, that was a 14-4 road victory over UNCW. The win improves State’s overall record to 31-15 on the year while UNCW drops to 26-22.

The win also moved NC State up 7 spots in the RPI rankings to 29th. With a series looming this coming weekend at RPI #10 North Carolina, the Wolfpack can move back into the hosting conversation with a series win over the Tar Heels, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

At the forefront of headlines going into the game was the return to the mound for NC State JR RHP Shane Van Dam as he made the start for the Wolfpack. The jitters were understandably present as he allowed a walk, double, single, stolen base, and another walk among the first five batters he faced, resulting in a run crossing the plate for the Seahawks. From there Van Dam settled in, although another two more runs did score in that first inning on an RBI groundout and a double steal. Seriously, that’s two steals of home against State over the last three games. Need to put an end to those evil shenanigans.

Despite throwing 19 pitches in the first inning, Van Dam rolled out for the second inning and he had clearly found his groove. In that second frame, he retired the side in order on just seven pitches. In the no-decision outing, Van Dam (2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) tossed a fitting 26 pitches in a game where all the Wolfpack players wore the retired #26 jersey in honor of Chris Combs.

Van Dam technically left the game in line for the win given his anticipated low pitch count as the Pack had a quick response in the top of the second inning to those three first inning runs for UNCW. Ty Head walked with one out, Matt Heavner followed with a single, and then Luke Nixon took a quick jog around his hometown bases after denting the right field light pole.

The State offense kept the inning going with two outs on back-to-back-to-back singles by Chris McHugh, Justin DeCriscio, and Alex Sosa to plate McHugh and put the Pack ahead 4-3. State wouldn’t trail again in the game.

It was good to see McHugh back in the lineup after having to be pulled in the Saturday game at Miami after being hit by a pitch on the hand, and then not being in the Sunday lineup even though that game was cancelled early.

State added another run in the top of the third inning thanks to a Head one-out double, scoring on a Heavner groundout with the assistance of a throwing error for UNCW 1B Tanner Thach.

The Pack blew the game open with a three-run fifth inning. Sosa singled to start with Brayden Fraasman and Brandon Novy working walks to load the bases with no outs. Head kept the bat head back just enough on a 2-2 pitch to poke a single into right field to score a run and push the Pack lead to three.

Heavner then walked to push across another run, with the final run coming one out later on a Josh Hogue fielder’s choice.

With State up 8-3, the game was effectively over as Carson Kelly had entered the game on the mound for the Pack and completely shut down the Seahawks batters. Across three innings of work, Kelly (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K) had a pair of runners reach second base, but didn’t let either of them advance any farther as he earned his first win of the season and the fourth of his career.

State tacked on another run in the sixth inning on a Sosa one-out single, back-to-back errors on UNCW SS Kevin Jones, and a sacrifice fly from Head.

The Seahawks did get a run back in the bottom half of that inning on a solo shot from UNCW RF Alec Demartino, but that was the last of the scoring for the home team.

The Pack plated three more runs in the top of the seventh. Nixon had an infield single to start the inning then Hogue replaced him on the bases with a fielder’s choice. McHugh doubled to put men on second and third base and DeCriscio brought them both in on a double of his own.

Sosa brought home DeCriscio, who had advanced a base on a wild pitch, with an RBI groundout, making it a 12-4 game.

State added the last two runs in the top of the ninth with Hogue walking with one out to get things going. Jet Gilliam pinch ran for him and advanced to second on a wild pitch with two outs. Pinch hitter Ryder Woodson scored Gilliam with a single and advanced to third on a Sosa single before scoring on a wild pitch to cap the scoring.

UNCW went quietly in the bottom of the ninth for the 14-4 final.

Following Kelly on the mound was Jacob Dudan, who has now pitched in four of State’s last five games, spanning a total of 11 days. Maybe throwing him 41 pitches wasn’t the best idea, but whatever. Dudan (2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K) did allow that solo blast to Demartino but otherwise was his normal dominant self. Tristan Potts (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) finished things off as he continues to impress with mound time late in the season.

Five Wolfpack hitters tallied multi-hit games led by Alex Sosa (4-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB) who reached in five of his six plate appearances. Nixon (2-for-6, HR, R, 3 RBI), McHugh (2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, HBP), DeCriscio (2-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, HBP), and Head (2-for-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SF) were the other four batters with multiple hits. Heavner (1-for-4, R, RBI, BB) also reached base safely multiple times.

As previously mentioned, the Pack will be back in action Thursday for the series opener in Chapel Hill against North Carolina. The two teams are among the seven ACC squads within a 1.5 games of first place in the conference, so this series will loom huge towards conference title and postseason implications. First pitch Thursday night is scheduled for 6:00pm.