No. 23 NC State races past No. 10 Virginia to clinch series win

No. 23 NC State had an opportunity to accomplish a rare feat Sunday afternoon. It had not lost a ranked series against an ACC opponent all spring, and it had the rubber match at No. 10 Virginia in its way.

The Wolfpack, though, was able to come from behind to beat the Cavaliers 13-5, clinching its fourth series win over a top-12 league opponent this season. It marked the 10th win over a top-25 squad this spring as well.

NC State opened the scoring early with a three-run blast by junior shortstop Brandon Butterworth in the first inning. It marked the infielder’s second homer of the weekend as he continued to heat up at the plate.

While the Pack took an early advantage, the Hoos pulled ahead with a four-run second inning — all with two outs. That, however, would be the last time the Wolfpack trailed in the game.

NC State powered a four-run fourth inning, which gave the red and white a three-run lead that Virginia could not overcome. NC State scored all four runs with two outs, including graduate first baseman Garrett Pennington’s two-RBI single to tie the game.

The Pack’s lead ballooned to 9-5 in the sixth as Pennington hit a mammoth two-run homer to center field at Disharoon Park. It marked his third homer in as many games as he went 9-for-13 in the series.

NC State padded its lead with a Matt Heavner sacrifice fly in the seventh, followed by a Luke Nixon three-run homer in the eighth.

While the Wolfpack’s bats were red-hot at the plate, the team’s pitching staff was effective. Graduate Logan Whitaker made his first start since the end of March and he logged 4.2 innings with five runs allowed and did not walk a batter.

After Whitaker came out, freshman lefty Cooper Consiglio put on a show on the mound. He tossed the last 4.1 innings for the Wolfpack, allowing just one hit in the process. Consiglio retired the final six batters he faced to earn the win.

Consiglio struck out three batters and walked two with an efficient 49 pitches.

The Wolfpack will host No. 12 Wake Forest for a three-game series beginning Thursday night at The Doak to wrap the regular season slate.