No. 10 NC State Rallies Late to Upend Duke

Friday, April 29

Raleigh, N.C.

6:30 PM

Duke University

NC State

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No. 10 NC State Rallies Late to Upend Duke

4/29/2016 10:24:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Duke Sports Information

RALEIGH, N.C. – Graduate student Kellen Urbon held 10th-ranked NC State at bay for 7.1 innings before the Wolfpack rallied for two runs late to win, 3-2, in the series open Friday night at Doak Field at Dail Park. NC State tied the game in the bottom of the eighth before Evan Mendoza lined a two-out walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth.

Urbon went a career-high 7.1 innings in the no decision, allowing two runs – one earned – on four hits. He retired 14 batters in three or fewer pitches and registered five first-pitch outs. Urbon struck out three and walked just one, totaling 87 pitches and leaving the game with a 2-1 lead in the eighth.

“[Kellen] pitched a great ballgame,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “He had some tough luck there in the first with the soft contact singles and we didn't make the play at third base. He pitched around all that and got off the field and just settled in. Pitched an unbelievable ballgame. He got stronger as the game went on. That's a great Friday night start.”

Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Preston Palmeiro led off with a double prior to a Chance Shepard base knock. Sophomore Mitch Stallings came on and retired the next two batters, but Evan Mendoza drove his second base hit of the ballgame into right to secure the Wolfpack victory.

“I'm proud of Mitch,” Pollard said. “He really came in and executed some good pitches. He executed every pitch we asked him to execute.”

For the 11th straight game, Herron reached based in the first out of the leadoff spot, starting what turned into a two-run Duke frame. After Herron stole his 17th base of the season, Proctor added a single of his own. A passed ball allowed Herron to score the game's inaugural run and a wild pitch a batter later permitted Proctor to scamper home.

Duke's two first-inning runs would be it for the Blue Devils, who went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

“The difference in the ballgame came down to the fact that we had some chances there in the middle innings with runners in scoring position to expand the lead and we just never got that hit to do it,” Pollard added.

NC State got a run back in the bottom half. Second baseman Stephen Pitarra singled and advanced to second on a Duke fielding errors. He then scored on Joe Dunand's RBI single through the left side. The Wolfpack would go on to load the bases before Urbon popped up Brett Kinneman to end the threat.

Both starting pitcher settled in after the first. NCSU's Cory Wilder scattered four hits over the remaining 5.2 innings of his outing, while Urbon retired 15 straight Wolfpack hitters from the first to the sixth.

Urbon turned in six straight shutout innings before being lifted in the eighth after an Evan Mendoza leadoff single and Pitarra sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Brock Deatherage tripled down the left field line against reliever Jack Labosky (0-5) to drive in the game-tying run.

“Kellen got up near 100 pitches and that's the furthest he'd gone in terms of number of pitches this year,” Pollard said. “We felt like we were able to get the out on the sacrifice, it made sense that giving them a different look was the right thing to do.”

Both late-inning runs were charged to Labosky who suffered the loss after 0.2 innings. Tommy DeJuneas (2-0) record the final two outs in the top of the ninth to pick up the win.

NC State had four hits – all singles -- through the first seven innings before striking for four hits – including a double and a triple – in the final two frames.

The two teams reconvene for the second game of the series Saturday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.

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