Instant recap: No. 12 NC State blows ninth-inning lead against Liberty for first loss

After No. 12 NC State opened the campaign with three straight run-rule wins over Fordham, it took a step up in competition as it squared off with Liberty for its first midweek affair. 

While the Wolfpack knew this game would go nine innings against the Flames, who opened the season with a sweep of St. John’s, it found itself in an early hole. NC State, which trailed by as many as four runs, seemed set to pick up its fourth straight win. 

Instead, a four-run ninth inning allowed Liberty to hand NC State its first loss of the season in a 9-8 result. 

Preseason All-America closer Jacob Dudan was up and down in the frame, which allowed the Flames to score on a Wolfpack error, a groundout and a two-RBI double to sent Liberty in front. 

Dudan was credited with the loss as he allowed four runs, none earned, on one hit with three walks and a hit batter. 

Sophomore first baseman Chris McHugh led the Pack at the plate with a 2-for-4 showing en route to a team-best three RBI. Junior right fielder Brayden Fraasman, meanwhile, clubbed a solo home run and a double and senior shortstop Justin DeCriscio was 2-for-2 with a run scored and two walks. 

Willadsen posts rocky start

In his first start in 626 days while recovering from a season-ending elbow injury suffered last preseason, senior right-handed pitcher Matt Willadsen had an up and down time on the mound. 

Willadsen, who threw an inning of relief with a home run allowed and three strikeouts against Fordham on Saturday, gave up a leadoff single before a one-out double opened Liberty’s scoring in the first. He was able to settle in with a quick 1-2-3 frame in the second, but the third inning had other plans. 

The Holly Springs, N.C., native was credited with four runs allowed in the frame, despite getting the leadoff batter to ground out. The next four all reached, including an RBI double and RBI single that chased Willadsen from the game. 

Sophomore lefty Cooper Consiglio emerged from the bullpen and he allowed a pair of RBI singles with two strikeouts mixed in. Willadsen’s final line was 2.1 innings pitched with five earned runs on five hits, two strikeouts and a walk. He fired 41 total pitches, including 24 strikes, as he was around his pitch count of 40-45 pitches in his recovery plan. 

Comeback falls just short

Liberty jumped out to a 5-1 lead after its big third inning at the plate, which marked NC State’s first time trialing this season. That didn’t seem to rattle the Wolfpack. Instead, the Pack responded well to the first sign of adversity this season. 

NC State was able to knot the score in the fourth with a four-run frame. It took advantage of a one-out bases loaded opportunity as sophomore second baseman Luke Nixon turned in a two-RBI single to cut the deficit. McHugh was then able to tie the game two batters later with a two-RBI double down the left field line. 

The Pack’s comeback effort was completed in the fifth as Fraasman led off with a first-pitch homer to left. The Lincoln Trail Community College transfer rocketed a 369-foot blast with a 111 mph exit velocity to give NC State its first lead of the afternoon.

From then on, it appeared that it was going to be all Wolfpack as the bullpen quieted the Flames’ bat to preserve NC State’s one-run lead, which swelled to three in the bottom of the eight after McHugh’s two-RBI single. Those insurance runs weren’t enough as Liberty powered its way to the win in the top of the ninth inning.

Hello, Mr. Nance

Clinging to a one-run lead, NC State coach Elliott Avent did something not too many coaches would think about doing against Liberty’s power-hitting lineup. He turned to Nance, the freshman reliever, to make his collegiate debut. 

And, well, it was a good decision. 

Nance retired the first six batters he faced via a mixture of fly balls and lineouts, though he did strikeout Liberty’s Riley DeCandido for the second out of the sixth. Although he allowed a leadoff single, which went off his foot, in the seventh, Nance sat down the next three hitters he saw. 

The Eden, N.C., native painted the corner to get Landon Scilley to strike out looking to end his outing. In all, Nance conceded just one hit in three innings of work with three strikeouts as he faced one over the minimum to kick off his collegiate career. 

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