Chapel Hill, NC – Under the Friday night lights of Boshamer Stadium, the No. 16 NC State Wolfpack delivered a gut-punch to the No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels, erupting for three runs in the ninth inning to secure an 8-5 victory in a rivalry showdown in front of 4,100 fans. The win evened the three-game series at one apiece, setting the stage for a Mother’s Day rubber match.
The Tar Heels (37-11, 16-10 ACC), coming off an 8-1 rout in Thursday’s opener, looked poised to carry their momentum forward. But the Wolfpack (32-16, 16-9 ACC), fueled by resilience and a critical defensive miscue, flipped the script in a game that epitomized the intensity of the North Carolina–NC State rivalry. With both teams jockeying for position behind ACC leader Florida State, the stakes were as high as the emotions.
A Game of Momentum Swings
The evening began with NC State asserting dominance. Left-hander Dominic Fritton (5-4, 4.07 ERA) took the mound for the Wolfpack, while UNC countered with righty Aidan Haugh (4-4, 3.27 ERA). The Wolfpack struck first, building a 4-0 lead by the fourth inning, thanks to a three-run homer from Luke Nixon, who returned to his Chapel Hill roots with a vengeance.
But UNC, known for its offensive firepower, refused to go quietly. The Tar Heels chipped away, scoring three runs by the seventh, with Alex Madera’s bat (.335 average) and Kane Kepley’s relentless hustle sparking the comeback.
The eighth inning proved pivotal. Trailing 5-3, UNC staged a two-out rally. NC State left fielder Josh Hogue misplayed a pop-up from Sam Angelo, a miscue that kept the inning alive. Angelo reached second, and Carter French’s single brought him home. Kepley followed with an RBI single, knotting the score at 5-5.
Wolfpack’s Ninth-Inning Heroics
In the top of the ninth, the Wolfpack loaded the bases against UNC reliever Cameron Padgett. A walk to Ty Head, who ranks among the nation’s leaders in walks drawn, forced in the go-ahead run. Then, Alex Sosa, who’d already notched a four-hit night, laced a two-run single to right, giving NC State an 8-5 cushion. Closer Andrew Shaffner, a midseason watch list standout, slammed the door in the bottom half, striking out two to seal the victory.
For UNC, the loss stung. Haugh battled through six innings, but the bullpen faltered in the ninth.
The Rivalry’s Bigger Picture
The game was a microcosm of the North Carolina–NC State rivalry, which spans 319 baseball meetings, with UNC leading 171-142-1 all-time. The Tar Heels hold a 94-67-1 edge in Chapel Hill, but NC State’s last sweep here in 2021 looms large. Since Forbes took over in 2021, UNC has won eight of the last 11 matchups, including postseason clashes.
What’s Next?
The series finale looms on Sunday at 1 p.m., televised on ACC Network. UNC will send right-hander Jason DeCaro (7-3, 3.55 ERA) to the mound, while NC State has yet to name a starter. With rain forecast for Chapel Hill, both teams are bracing for a potentially soggy Senior Day, which will honor UNC’s departing players during a “Brunch at the Bosh” celebration.
For the Tar Heels, it’s a chance to reclaim momentum before facing UNC Wilmington on Tuesday. For the Wolfpack, a series win would bolster their NCAA Tournament resume and cement their place in the ACC’s upper echelon.