TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – For the second straight night, No. 12 Florida State (39-16, 16-12 ACC) hit an extra-inning, walk-off home run to beat No. 4 NC State (39-14, 18-11). Reese Albert’s three-run home run was his seventh of the season as FSU improved to 5-1 in extra-inning games on the season.
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“The first thing that needs to be said is how pleased I am with the entire team,” head coach Mike Martin said. “Just battled. To have a home run go out with a one-run lead, two outs…there was no drop in their heads or feeling sorry for themselves. They battled…What you got tonight were two very good ball clubs just getting after it.”
Albert finished with three hits on the night, none bigger than his home run off Johnny Piedmonte (5-3) that ended the game in the 10th inning. He finished with a career-high five RBI after hitting a two-run single for a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
“It’s great to see Reese Albert do it,” Martin said. “He’s a young man that’s gotten better with each opportunity to play. Don’t forget he had a big assist tonight. It was a good win for us.”
Andrew Karp pitched 8.0 innings, striking out seven batters and allowing a pair of solo home runs that gave the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Jonah Scolaro entered in the ninth trying for his seventh save of the season, but Brock Deatherage’s second home run of the game with two outs tied the game at 3-3.
CJ Van Eyk (6-0) remained perfect and earned his second win in two days, allowing just one walk in the top of the 10th inning.
Karp and FSU’s two freshman pitchers allowed nine hits in the game, but the Wolfpack hit 0-for-9 with runners on base and 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
Will Wilson and Deatherage hit home runs in the fourth inning to give NC State a 2-0 lead off Karp. The Seminoles answered in the sixth with a two-out rally. Cal Raleigh extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single, Drew Mendoza was hit by a pitch and Steven Wells walked to load the bases. J.C. Flowers singled to score Raleigh before Albert’s two-run single gave FSU a lead.
The Seminoles held that 3-2 lead until the top of the ninth inning when Deatherage hit his second home run of the game and 14th of the season.
In the 10th, Wells walked and Flowers singled before Albert took an 0-2 pitch over the wall in right field for the biggest home run of his Seminole career.
Deatherage led NC State with three hits, while Josh McLain, the ACC leader in hits, added a pair. FSU struck out nine NC State batters and walked just one. In the two-game series, FSU pitching has struck out 24 and walked just two over 23 innings.
For the second night in a row, FSU won on a walk-off home run in extra innings. After Steven Wells’ solo shot won the game Thursday in the 11th inning, Reese Albert hit a three-run home run in the 10th inning to give FSU a 6-3 lead.
Florida State and NC State wrap the regular season with the series finale Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to enter Dick Howser Stadium for a ceremony celebrating head coach Mike Martin becoming the winningest coach in college baseball history earlier this month.
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or keep up with the team on social media through Twitter (@FSUBaseball), Facebook (/FSUBaseball), and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).