NC State Wolfpack Stages Dramatic Comeback to Defeat No. 11 UNC Tar Heels, Clinch ACC Series

The NC State Wolfpack baseball team staged a thrilling 5-4 comeback victory over the No. 11 UNC Tar Heels at Doak Field on Thursday night, clinching the ACC series.

Trailing 4-1 in the late innings, the Wolfpack rallied with four runs in the eighth inning to stun their rivals and secure the win.

Freshman pitchers Jacob Dudan and Luke Nixon played critical roles in the Wolfpack's triumph. Dudan entered the game in the ninth inning and struck out UNC's star slugger Vance Honeycutt to seal the victory and earn the save. Nixon also contributed with clutch pitching in relief.

The Tar Heels jumped out to an early lead, powered by home runs from Honeycutt and Parks Harber. However, the Wolfpack refused to go down quietly. In the seventh inning, they tied the game on a passed ball. Then in the eighth, Brandon Butterworth delivered a key hit to put NC State ahead for good.

Why this matters: The victory marks a momentous win for NC State over a highly-ranked conference rival. It showcases the team's resilience and ability to come from behind, with clutch performances from young players like Dudan and Nixon.

The win improves the Wolfpack's record to 22-14 overall and 12-8 in the ACC. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels fall to 29-10 overall and 15-5 in conference play. NC State will look to complete the series sweep in the final game on Saturday afternoon.

"It was an amazing feeling," Dudan said of striking out Honeycutt to end the game. "I just had to take a deep breath and trust my stuff. To get that final out against a great hitter and clinch the series, it's an incredible moment for me and the team."

Key Takeaways

• NC State baseball defeated No. 11 UNC 5-4 in a comeback victory.
• Freshman pitchers Dudan and Nixon played crucial roles in the win.
• NC State rallied with 4 runs in the 8th inning to stun UNC.
• The win improves NC State's record to 22-14 overall, 12-8 in ACC.
• Dudan struck out UNC's star slugger Honeycutt to seal the victory.