NC State baseball fails to sweep series in 14-3 loss to No. 11 UNC

After securing the series against No. 11 UNC Chapel-Hill, NC State baseball looked to sweep the series at home for the first time since 2011, but fell 14-3 behind a strong offensive performance from the Tar Heels.

The Pack (22-15, 12-9 ACC) struggled on the mound, cycling through five pitchers and allowing 13 earned runs to the Tar Heels (30-10, 15-6 ACC). Inconsistent pitching has been a constant for the Wolfpack, who used a season-high nine pitchers just five days earlier.

“We’re pitching thin right now,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “Guys are battling, but we’ve got to have some guys step up.”

NC State was also sloppy in its fielding as two errors only helped a five-run performance in the third inning from the Tar Heels — a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt allowed for a free, unearned run for Chapel Hill. NC State finished the game with three errors while Carolina finished with zero.

One of the few bright spots for the Wolfpack was junior catcher Jacob Cozart, who had his second-career multi-homer game in the loss. The series was one of Cozart’s career-best, smashing three home runs and recording seven RBIs in three games against the Tar Heels.

“He gives you everything he’s got,” Avent said. “He’s one of the top catchers in the country and he had a big weekend for us.”

The Wolfpack dug its own grave in the third inning when it allowed the Tar Heels to leap out to a 5-0 lead. Despite only allowing two hits, the Pack couldn’t get out of its own way with four walks and two errors in the frame. North Carolina capitalized, putting the red-and-white in a chokehold early.

NC State’s woes continued into the fourth. North Carolina opened the inning with a solo homer, stretching the difference to six runs. Avent elected to pull starting freshman left-handed pitcher Cooper Consiglio afterward. The freshman, who’s steadily improved this season, allowed five runs, four hits and four walks in 3.1 innings of action.

The Pack’s bullpen didn’t fare much better. Sophomore righty Andrew Shaffner relieved Consiglio but finished with similar results. Like Consiglio, Shaffner couldn’t nail down the strike zone and walked four batters while conceding three runs.

“They commanded the strike zone and we did not,” Avent said. “When you pitch from behind like that against an offensive team like that you’re gonna pay.”

Offensively, the Pack didn’t have the horses to keep pace with the Tar Heels. While Cozart shined, the rest of the lineup went cold. The Pack received two combined hits between its first four batters in the lineup — a typically explosive group of hitters. North Carolina’s outfield worsened matters for the Pack with multiple diving and sliding catches, dooming the already-struggling Wolfpack bats.

“That outfield they’ve got is unbelievable,” Avent said. “They must have saved about seven or eight runs this weekend … They keep making plays, they outplayed us today.”

Despite the loss, NC State still won the weekend series, taking the first two games Thursday and Friday. Adding a series win over the No. 11 team in the nation bolsters NC State’s resume significantly as the Pack continues to work towards the possibility of hosting a regional in the NCAA Tournament.

“They’re as good a team as we’ve seen this year,” Avent said. “We’re still battling injuries and trying to get healthy and fighting as hard as we can. Our guys fight their butts off and obviously, that fight got them two wins this weekend against a team that is that good.”

Next, NC State will hit the road to take on No. 9 East Carolina. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, and will be available on ESPN+.