South Raleigh News

ATHENS, Ga. – For the fourth time in program history and the third time since 2013, the NC State baseball team is heading to the Men's College World Series after defeating No. 7 national seed Georgia 8-5 in a winner-take-all Super Regional matchup on Monday night at Foley Field.

NC State (38-21) recorded its 16th comeback win of the season to secure its place in Omaha. The victory also marked the third time head coach Elliott Avent has led his NC State squad to Omaha.

The Wolfpack will face No. 2 national seed Kentucky (45-14) on Saturday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN.

Georgia (43-17) struck first with a two-run homer from Tre Phelps in the second inning after Dylan Goldstein opened with a leadoff walk.

Garrett Pennington answered Phelps' two-run shot with a home run to center field, leveling the score at 2-2 in the top of the third inning. Pennington's second homer of the Super Regional and fourth of the NCAA Tournament also scored Eli Serrano III, who had singled to open the inning.

The Wolfpack pulled ahead for the first time Monday with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Matt Heavner opened with a leadoff double before Noah Soles drew a walk, putting runners on base with no outs. Serrano III then executed a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. A passed ball allowed Heavner to score, giving NC State a 3-2 lead. Alec Makarewicz then singled to extend their lead to 4-2.

Logan Whitaker pitched 4.1 innings for NC State, allowing only four hits and two runs while striking out seven batters. Whitaker retired Georgia’s lineup in order during both the first and third innings.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Georgia loaded the bases but failed to capitalize as freshman reliever Jacob Dudan struck out SEC Player of the Year Charlie Condon and induced an inning-ending groundout from Slate Alford.

Serrano III hit a leadoff home run on his first pitch of the sixth inning, extending NC State's lead to 5-2. Georgia responded with a sacrifice fly from Fernando Gonzalez in their half of that inning to make it 5-3.

Freshman designated hitter Alex Sosa re-established NC State's three-run advantage with a solo home run in the seventh inning, making it 6-3. Georgia again trimmed it by one when Goldstein brought home Corey Collins on an RBI groundout.

Makarewicz provided key insurance runs for NC State with a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning after Pennington doubled down the left-field line, making it an 8-4 game.

Condon hit a solo home run in Georgia’s final attempt but Wolfpack closer Derrick Smith secured his team-high eighth save of the season by allowing just one run over three innings pitched.

Serrano III and Sosa each contributed three hits for NC State while Makarewicz led with three RBIs.

UP NEXT

NC State will face Kentucky in its opening round game at this year's NCAA Men's College World Series at Charles Schwab Field at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, which will be televised on ESPN.

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