How It Happened
NC State jumped out to an early lead after putting two runs up in the bottom of the first. The Wolfpack’s first two batters got into scoring position after a single and a double to start the inning. The Irish got the lead runner out after Brannigan and Danny Neri tagged JT Jarrett out trying to go home on a ground out. State’s first run came on the next play, a similar grounder to Brannigan but it was too slow for him to make a play at home. Devonte Brown got the second run home on a single down the line in left but he was tagged out trying to stretch it into a double. After the first frame, the Irish faced a 2-0 deficit.
NC State scored two more in the third after the inning was extended by an error. Josh Hood stepped in the box after the error and singled through the left side to score both Wolfpack runners that were in scoring position. After the first three frames, NC State held a 4-0 lead.
The Wolfpack kept the Irish off the scoreboard until the seventh inning when Carter Putz led off the inning. He worked a full count and took the 3-2 pitch over the wall in left center for a solo home run. It was Putz’s second home run of the year and the Irish were not done in the inning. The Irish scored two more runs to pull within one run. Brannigan scored on a wild pitch and Coetzee III scored on Prajzner’s single to left.
State looked to get the runs back in the bottom half of the inning but Coetzee III made a great play in right. After the leadoff runner got on, he made a diving catch and doubled off the runner at first for the double play. The Wolfpack did not score in the inning and the Irish trailed by just one run, 4-3, after seven innings.
The Irish kept the bats going in the eighth and tied the game. Jared Miller doubled to start the inning and came home to score on the RBI single from Brannigan. It was Brannigan’s second hit of the day and tied the score at 4-4.
Ryan McLinskey was a lightning rod out of the bullpen for the Irish as he tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless ball with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed. He carried the Irish into the 11th inning where Brannigan took over. Brannigan struck out two to end the 11th after the Wolfpack got the winning run in scoring position.
In the top of the 12th, Prajzner hit his home run to push the Irish ahead. A few Wolfpack miscues allowed the Irish to tack on three more insurance runs that were more than enough for Brannigan. He struck out two more in the 12th, including Tommy White, for the final out of the game to seal the victory.
