Carolina Rally Falls Short Against Wolfpack, 8-5

Friday, May 9

Chapel Hill

6 PM

North Carolina

37-11, 0

NC State

32-16, 0

NC State

North Carolina

May 9, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: William Soulé

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 4 North Carolina came back from four runs down to tie the game but couldn't finish off the rally, losing 8-5 to No. 16 NC State on Friday night.

The Tar Heels (37-11, 16-10 ACC) got two huge homers in the seventh to cut into the Wolfpack's lead before a trio of clutch two-out hits leveled the score in the bottom of the eighth. However, the ninth saw NC State jump back in front for good with three runs that evened the series. It is just the second time this season the Heels have given up a game winning run in the ninth.

It took the Carolina offense until the seventh inning to get truly going, but once it was here it arrived in force. Two-time captain Jackson Van De Brake broke the lid off with a two-run moonshot to left field, his fourth homer of the year, that cut the deficit in half.

Catcher Luke Stevenson immediately followed with a long ball of his own, going 412 feet to straightaway center with a 109 mph exit velo. His 16^th home run of the year gave the Heels their third instance of back-to-back jacks this season, all involving Stevenson.

His 16 homers are the most by a Carolina catcher this century, surpassing Chris Ianetta who had 15 in 2004.

Into the eighth, the Heels were down to their final out of the frame when Sam Angelo entered to pinch hit. He then produced a big double down the left field line to start the run. Carter French and Kane Kepley followed with RBI singles that tied the game at 5-5. Kepley had another productive day for Carolina, putting up his second straight three-hit game with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI to boot.

North Carolina used seven different pitchers in the game, four of them in the ninth inning. Camron Seagraves was the best of the bunch on the bump on Friday night, going 2.2 IP with only one hit and no runs allowed.

Tonight's result sets up a Sunday rubber match between the two rivals. Carolina is 9-2 in series deciding game so far this season. First pitch at Boshamer Stadium is scheduled for May 11 at 1 p.m. ET with coverage coming live on ACC Network.