NC State can’t complete series sweep in loss vs. No. 11 UNC

After NC State found multiple ways to storm back against No. 11 North Carolina in the first two games of the series, both wins, the Wolfpack’s magic ran out in the finale Saturday afternoon at Doak Field. 

The Tar Heels jumped out in front early and kept their foot on the gas pedal to beat the Wolfpack 14-3. NC State was searching for its first series sweep of North Carolina since 2021, but it did clinch its first series win over the Tar Heels in three seasons this weekend. 

“They outplayed us in every phase,” NC State coach Elliott Avent said. “They have a really good baseball team. They commanded the strike zone and we did not. Pitching from behind like that, against an offensive team like that, you’re going to pay.”

Junior catcher Jacob Cozart paced NC State’s offense in the defeat with a 2-for-4 day, which included a pair of solo homers. It marked his first multi-home run game since he clubbed a pair against Towson on March 2, and just his third and fourth since that day. 

Cozart broke through in the North Carolina series with four hits, including three home runs, and seven RBI after he started league play batting .277 with nine RBI and no long balls. 

“He gives you everything he’s got back there,” Avent said of Cozart. “One of the top defensive catchers in the country, obviously, but he had a big weekend for us. He just keeps giving it everything he’s got.”

Third-inning woes were the difference

NC State cruised through the first two innings with freshman Cooper Consiglio on the mound, but once the third inning came around, the Wolfpack found itself in trouble. 

The freshman righty walked four batters in the frame, and North Carolina took advantage of the free base runners. Tar Heel left fielder Casey Cook opened the scoring with a two-RBI single to right. 

And when NC State thought it could limit the damage to that, Consiglio attempted to pick Cook off at first and ended up launching the ball over Garrett Pennington’s head. That allowed the Tar Heels to plate their third run of the frame. 

But that was not the only error of the frame. North Carolina catcher Luke Stevenson drove in the Heels’ fourth run on a sacrifice fly, and the Wolfpack was able to get Alberto Osuna in a rundown right after. Instead of getting him out at second, Pennington sent the ball into the outfield, allowing the fifth run of the frame to score. 

North Carolina’s offense was able to use that inning to push past NC State. The Tar Heels added a run in the fourth, three in the sixth and one in the seventh and eighth, and three more in the ninth. 

Consiglio finished the day with six runs allowed (five earned) on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Andrew Shaffner tossed 2.2 innings of relief with three runs allowed, while Jacob Dudan gave up a run in one inning of work. Garrett Payne allowed a run in one frame, while Caden Wimbish gave up three runs in the ninth inning.

Up Next

The Wolfpack’s interstate competition continues with a trek to No. 9 East Carolina on Tuesday night at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. NC State will have played five consecutive contests against teams from North Carolina after that game — Tuesday vs. Campbell, the weekend against North Carolina and the trip to ECU. 

NC State lost 12-4 in its first meeting of the season with ECU on April 2. Now, the Wolfpack is looking to find who it can put on the field in Greenville with its banged up pitching staff. 

“We’re trying to figure out who we’ve got to pitch,” Avent said. “Right now, we’re pitching thin. These Tuesday games mount up. … We’ve got an extra day that helps, but we’re pitching thin right now. Guys are battling, but we have to have some guys step up.”