NC State Baseball Wins High-Scoring Series Against Louisville
NC State took two out of three games in a wild weekend series against Louisville, improving their ACC record to 9-6 and moving into a tie with the Cardinals for fifth place in the conference. The Pack showed resilience throughout the series, rallying for victories in the first and final games despite trailing early in both. With series still to come against top-tier opponents Clemson and North Carolina, this win positions NC State well for postseason consideration.
In Friday’s opener, the Pack fell behind 7-2 but responded with a massive seven-run fourth inning to turn the tide. A string of walks, wild pitches, and key hits—including two doubles from Alex Sosa and a clutch go-ahead hit by Luke Nixon—helped NC State take the lead. Despite another rally from Louisville, NC State kept pushing and held on for a 13-11 win, thanks in part to Jacob Dudan’s dominant four-inning save.
Saturday’s game was a tough one for NC State, as they were overwhelmed in a 25-8 loss. While the Pack managed some offensive highlights—including multi-hit performances from Brayden Fraasman, Luke Nixon, Trenton Lyons, and Ryan Jaros—the pitching struggled to contain a relentless Louisville offense. The game was quickly out of reach, and NC State shifted its focus to the deciding matchup on Sunday.
Sunday’s finale mirrored the rest of the series with an early Louisville lead, but the Wolfpack quickly responded. After tying the game in the third, NC State pulled ahead in the fourth with another big inning, capitalizing once again on Louisville’s control issues. Ryan Marohn delivered a strong start on the mound, giving up just one run over nearly seven innings, while the offense added insurance late to secure a mercy-rule win, 11-1.
Throughout the weekend, NC State’s patience at the plate made a major difference. The Pack drew 37 walks and took advantage of 11 wild pitches and multiple defensive errors from Louisville. Standout performances from players like Sosa, Nixon, Head, and DeCriscio fueled the offense, while the bullpen, especially Dudan and Shaffner, delivered when it mattered. With their RPI rising to 42 and an ELO ranking of 24, the Pack continues building a strong case for NCAA Tournament consideration as they prepare to face Cal next weekend in an ACC road series.
