RALEIGH, NC – It took a two-out walk-off home run for Power Five North Carolina State University (NCSU) to avoid the upset attempt from North Carolina A&T in non-conference baseball action at Doak Field at Doak Park on Tuesday. NCSU third baseman LuJames Groover III's solo blast off right-handed reliever Connor Blantz (L, 1-2) earned the Wolfpack a 6-5 win.
Groover's home run gave the Aggies their fifth straight loss, dropping A&T to 17-24 overall. NCSU improved to 25-0 all-time against A&T as it improved its 2023 record to 29-14. Designated hitter Camden Jackson led the Aggies by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Second baseman Tre Williams went 2-for-4 with two RBI, including a double.
Before Groover's heroics, the Aggies had a chance to put the Wolfpack in a tough come-from-behind predicament in the home ninth. The game entered the visitor's ninth tied at 5-5. Devon Rodriguez and Jackson led off the frame with singles, which led the Wolfpack to change pitchers as RHP Andrew Shaffner replaced LHP Rio Britton.
But Britton walked Aggies catcher Canyon Brown to load the bases with zero outs. That led to LHP Dominic Fritton (W, 3-2) entering the game. Fritton struck out three straight A&T batters to end the threat.
"Lack of execution really hurt us," said A&T head coach Ben Hall. "We didn't get bunts down, and to have the bases loaded with no outs in the ninth and not even put a ball in play is just not good. Tip your cap to their guy, Groover. We made one mistake to him, and he stepped up for his team. He didn't miss it."
The Aggies certainly had the Wolfpack on the ropes throughout the day. NCSU starter and RHP Baker Nelson hit A&T first baseman Anthony Hennings with an 0-2 pitch with one out in the first inning. After Rodriguez entered as a pinch runner for Hennings, Jackson singled up the middle, and Brown hit an RBI double down the left field line to give the Aggies a 1-0 lead. After a Brantley strikeout, Williams doubled to right center to score Jackson and Brown to complete the Aggies three-run first.
After NCSU's Noah Soles homered in the first and teammate Trevor Candelaria homered in the second, the Wolfpack cut the Aggies lead to one. But the Aggies rebuilt their lead after Jackson hit a one-out single, and Brantley hit a two-out, two-run homer to right field to put the Aggies ahead 5-2. Brantley's homer marked the 16th of his career. But the Wolfpack kept fighting back.
In the sixth, A&T's LHP Daniel Carter retired the first two batters he faced before a misplayed ball in right field allowed for a Cannon Pebbles double. It led to Candelaria hitting his second home run of the game to put the Wolfpack to within one again at 5-4. An RBI double from Groover in the seventh tied the game for the Wolfpack.
"Missed opportunities eliminated our chances to win that game," said Hall.
The Aggies will focus on conference play for the remainder of the season, as their final six regular-season games are in the Piedmont area. First, they will host the College of Charleston for a three-game Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) series starting Friday at 6 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium. The following weekend the Elon Phoenix will host the Aggies at Latham Field in Elon, NC, beginning Friday, May 12, at 6 p.m.
The Aggies are still in contention for a berth in the CAA tournament, May 24-27.
