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Wolfpack Tailspin Continues With Seventh-Straight Loss

NC State is still trying to fight its way out of a serious slump.
Tucker Sennett|
NC State Wolfpack players meet on the mound during an eventful first inning against the Stetson Hatters during the NCAA Baseball Regional Tournament at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala., on Friday May 30, 2025.
NC State Wolfpack players meet on the mound during an eventful first inning against the Stetson Hatters during the NCAA Baseball Regional Tournament at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala., on Friday May 30, 2025. | Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

RALEIGH — NC State baseball went from the No. 14 team in the nation to unranked after a winless week. The hope was that a return home after a tough series against No. 3 Georgia Tech would help the team find some confidence once again, but that wasn't the case on Tuesday. Liberty came in and handed the Wolfpack a 7-5 loss in back-breaking fashion.

Many of the same problems from earlier in the season continued to show up in crucial moments for Elliott Avent's group, but there were also some steps in the right direction against the Flames, including in the recent losses to Georgia Tech.

Wolfpack lineup and stats

  1. LF Rett Johnson: 1-4, R
  2. 1B Chris McHugh: 0-3, R
  3. 2B Luke Nixon: 1-3, R, RBI
  4. 3B Sherman Johnson: 0-3, RBI
  5. CF Ty Head: 1-3, R, BB
  6. RF Brayden Fraasman: 0-3, R, BB
  7. DH Dalton Bargo: 0-4, RBI
  8. C Vincent DeCarlo: 1-2, RBI, BB -- C Drew Lanphere -- PH Andrew Wiggins: 0-1, K
  9. SS Mikey Ryan: 1-3, K

LHP Luke Hemric: 5.1 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 7 K
RHP Sam Harris: 0.1 IP, H, R, ER, BB
RHP Ryder Garino: 2.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 6 K
RHP Danny Heintz: IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 K, L ( 0-1)

Key observations and takeaways

Luke Hemric walks off the field during 7-3 win over Winthrop
Luke Hemric walks off the field during 7-3 win over Winthrop | Courtesy of NC State Athletics

It was another sleepy start for NC State's bats, which tallied just one hit in the first four innings. However, the Wolfpack finally woke up in the fifth inning as Liberty continued to make pitching changes in an effort to steal a road victory over a Power Conference foe. It was the bottom of the order that did the damage for the Pack, making up for some shortcomings from the high-level members of the lineup.

Luckily for the Wolfpack, Hemric found some of the confidence he showed early in the season and grinded through 5.1 innings. In fact, pitching was far from the problem early. While Harris had some issues, Hemric and Garino mostly stifled the Flames for the most part, other than a solo shot allowed by Garino and the two runs cashed against Hemric. The pair combined for 13 strikeouts.

Rett Johnson and Nixon came up with the most important offense in the game for the Wolfpack. Johnson went around the bases after singling, using his speed to advance as Liberty struggled with pick-off attempts, passed balls and fielder's choices. Then, Nixon tied the game with a clutch triple, bringing McHugh home from first. A sac-fly put the Wolfpack ahead.

Getting that big hit made it seem as though NC State turned a corner. However, the overexertion of the bullpen over the weekend in two highly competitive games and one blowout finally caught up to the Wolfpack. Heintz couldn't deal with the feisty Flames in the top of the ninth. Now, the focus shifts to a three-game set against Notre Dame, which will begin on Thursday.

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Tucker Sennett
TUCKER SENNETT

Tucker Sennett graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Journalism from the esteemed Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. A former basketball player, he has gained valuable experience working at Cronkite News and brings a deep passion for sports and reporting to his role as the NC State Wolfpack Beat Writer On SI.

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