Raleigh, N.C. – NC State faced a tough challenge against #2-ranked North Carolina on Thursday night, losing 9-4 at Doak Field. The Wolfpack started slow, falling behind 6-0 but managed to rally in the sixth inning.
In that frame, the Wolfpack scored all four of their runs. Sherman Johnson hit a powerful three-run home run, while Rett Johnson added an RBI single. This marked Sherman’s eighth home run of the season, and Rett finished with two hits, extending his hitting streak to 25 games.
The Wolfpack continues to struggle against ranked opponents, now standing at just 2-6 this season. Dalton Bargo joined Rett with a multi-hit game, and Ty Head had two walks, raising his season total to 53—breaking a school record for the second-most walks in a single season.
On the pitching side, Heath Andrews delivered a strong performance, striking out a career-high 10 batters and allowing only one run in the first four innings. However, the Tar Heels scored five runs in the fifth. Jason DeCaro, the UNC starter, allowed just two runs over five innings, snapping his streak of not allowing earned runs.
Both teams struggled with runners in scoring position. NC State went 2-7, while UNC was 3-16.
The Tar Heels opened the scoring with a triple in the third, followed by a ground ball that brought in the first run. They then extended their lead with a series of home runs and capitalized on Wolfpack errors.
In the seventh, the Wolfpack had an opportunity to close the gap when Chris McHugh reached base after a UNC error, bringing the tying run to the plate. However, the rally fell short, and UNC added more runs in the later innings to secure the win.
As the series continues, NC State will look to improve in game two on Saturday, May 15th. The game will be available on ACC Network.
This match highlights the ongoing challenges for NC State when facing top-tier competition, emphasizing the need for improved consistency to turn close games into wins.
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