NC State beats No. 2 Clemson to open weekend series
Going into NC State’s series opener at No. 2 Clemson, the wind was bound to be a factor. There were upwards of 20 mph winds blowing out, which set up prime opportunities for wind-aided homers.
And, well, it did not take long for those to show up in NC State’s 11-8 win over Clemson in a back and forth game to open the weekend at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C. The Pack snapped a five-game losing streak with its fourth ranked victory of the spring.
The Wolfpack kicked things off with a blast to open the scoring. Outfielder Josh Hogue clubbed a solo home run over the right field fence with two down in the first inning, and the ball left in a hurry. Hogue’s longball went an estimated 404 feet.
Though NC State took an early lead on the second-ranked team in the country, Clemson was able to answer in similar fashion. The Tigers’ Will Taylor cranked a shot over the left field fence, a line drive at that, to give Clemson an early 2-1 advantage.
While the long ball showed up early and often, NC State manufactured runs the old-fashioned way in the fourth inning.
The Wolfpack ripped off a four-run frame, highlighted by Eli Serrano’s two-run double, to take a three-run lead over the Tigers. The Wolfpack’s big inning knocked Tigers starter Matthew Marchal out of the game after just 58 pitches.
But just as the Pack seemed to get comfortable with a sizable lead, Clemson utilized the homer to get right back into the contest. First baseman Jimmy Obertop launched a two-run blast, which was estimated to go 465 feet, to make it a one-run ball game.
That home run gave the Tigers some momentum in the frame and starter Sam Highfill’s lack of control loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and back-to-back walks. That loaded the bases before Taylor hit a two-run single to give Clemson the lead.
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Highfill, who made his first appearance since he had eight shutout frames against Notre Dame on March 28. The righty finished the game with six runs allowed on five hits with three walks and a strikeout in 3.1 innings pitched.
Though the Tigers were able to pounce on Highfill, the Wolfpack was able to claw back with a four-run top of the fifth — its second frame with as many runs. Serrano, who had 19 RBI entering the contest, was the man again as he added two more on a single up the middle to give the red and white a 9-6 lead.
The outfielder finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and four RBI.
NC State was able to capitalize on an opportunity as the Pack scored a quartet of runs on just one hit, Serrano’s base knock. The Pack scored a pair on a throwing error from Clemson third baseman Blake Wright, which extended the inning and opened the door for the single to score two more.
Clemson was able to cut NC State’s lead to one by the fifth inning, but the Pack was able to keep its distance from the Tigers. Reliever Shane Van Dam tossed 4.2 innings with two runs (one earned) on two hits with three walks and a career-best eight strikeouts.
And while Van Dam threw well on the mound, NC State added an insurance run from a bloop single by third baseman Alec Makarewicz in the eighth inning. That was all the Wolfpack needed to hold on for the win over the second-ranked team in the nation.
Closer Derrick Smith earned the save after he retired three straight batters upon entering the game in the ninth with two runners on.
The two teams will square off for game two of the series Saturday night at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network.
