Wake Forest University
NC State
Deacs Edged by No. 5 NC State, 7-5
5/12/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF) 
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Wake Forest again battled from behind before eventually falling to No. 5 NC State, 7-5, at Doak Field on Saturday night.
Chris Lanzilli put the Demon Deacons (22-28, 11-15 ACC) ahead early with a three-run homer in the top of the first inning.
The Wolfpack (38-12, 17-9 ACC) battled back with five runs in the fourth, sparked by homers from Will Wilson and Evan Edwards as well as a pair of triples.
Wake Forest again fought from behind to tie the game. Logan Harvey roped a two-run double on a full-count, two-out pitch in the sixth inning to plate a pair of runs.
Walks doomed the Deacons in the seventh, though. Wake Forest issued free passes to five-consecutive hitters to bring in two runs without a hit.
The Deacs out-hit the Wolfpack, 7-5, but Wake Forest issued 12 walks while drawing just four.
Bobby Hearn, William Fleming and Chris Farish were all strong in relief for the Deacs. Hearn struck out the side in the fifth to escape a bases-loaded jam, and Fleming recovered from a leadoff walk to retire the next three in the sixth. Farish struck out the side in the eighth for the Deacs.
Wake Forest got to NC State Brian Brown, who allowed a season-high five runs on six hits and three walks in 6.0 innings. Johnny Piedmonte (5-2) earned the win in relief with 1.1 scoreless innings, and Joe O'Donnell picked up his 10th save with 1.1 scoreless frames of his own. NC State struck out 17 Deacons, while Wake Forest fanned 11 Wolfpack hitters.
Michael Ludowig went 2-for-4 for the Deacs, while Shane Muntz and DJ Poteet each had a single and a walk.
The series finale is set for Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
