No. 20 NC State splits weekend series at No. 7 Florida State
No. 20 NC State entered the weekend in search of as many wins as possible at No. 7 Florida State to continue its surge through the RPI as it looks to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament.
It was able to continue to build its resume with a split series against the Seminoles in Tallahassee, Fla. The second game of the weekend on Saturday night, however, was canceled due to poor field conditions.
NC State took the series opener on Friday night, while Florida State evened the weekend Sunday afternoon.
Friday: NC State 8, Florida State 7
The Wolfpack kicked the weekend off in grandiose fashion with a nail-biting win over the Seminoles on Friday night. NC State’s victory was the Pack’s fifth top-10 win of the season and it handed Florida State its third home defeat of the season — and its second of the ACC slate.
But before the Wolfpack found a way to win the game, the red and white fell behind early in the first inning on an RBI double. Though the Seminoles struck first, junior catcher Jacob Cozart clubbed a solo homer, his ninth in as many games as he continued a red-hot stretch at the plate.
That helped the Wolfpack seize momentum in the inning as the red and white scored four runs in the frame. The Pack then stretched its lead to 6-2 in the fourth inning before a nearly two-hour rain delay set in. The Seminoles returned from the break and cut the Wolfpack’s lead to just one.
That did not stop graduate third baseman Alec Makarewicz from hitting his 18th long ball of the season, which leads the Pack, to make it a 7-5 game. NC State added another run in the eighth before sophomore closer Derrick Smith entered to secure a 1.2 inning save.
Graduate right fielder Noah Soles returned to action in the game after he was sidelined since March 29 due to injury. He reached base four times and logged a double with two runs scored in the victory.
Sunday: Florida State 8, NC State 1
After the weather-impacted game did not happen Saturday, the teams battled in the series finale Sunday. The Seminoles were able to level the weekend with a statement early in the final game of the weekend.
Florida State scored four runs in the first two innings to give the Seminoles momentum in the contest. NC State was able to plate a run in the second via a sacrifice fly by Chase Nixon, but Florida State tacked on another run in the bottom half of the inning.
NC State had the bases loaded in the sixth inning, down four runs, but Eli Serrano III was robbed of a two-out bloop hit to center as center fielder DeAmez Ross dove to make the play. The Seminoles were able to add three more runs in the bottom of the inning to ice the contest.
Graduate right-hander Logan Whitaker made his first appearance since March 29 after he battled an illness for more than a month. He pitched one inning of relief with three earned runs, three walks and a strikeout on 40 pitches.
Infielder Matt Heavner and Makarewicz were the only Wolfpack players to log multi-hit games in the series finale against Florida State.
