RALEIGH, North
Carolina - Matt Bergquist had three hits and knocked in six runs to power
NC State past UNCW, 17-5, on Sunday in an elimination game at Doak Field at the
NCAA Raleigh Regional.
The Wolfpack (41-18) advanced to the regional final against
Vanderbilt and will need two wins to advance to the Super Regional round. The
Seahawks were eliminated with the loss and concluded their season with a record
of 39-23.
NCSU built a 10-4 lead after six innings thanks in part to a
seven-run fourth inning, as 11 hitters made their way to the plate. Bergquist
and Andrew Ciencin fueled the big inning with a two-run double and a three-run
homer, respectively.
UNCW starter Mat Batts (6-5) took the loss, allowing eight
runs, six earned, on eight hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings.
Trailing 9-1 in the sixth, UNCW plated three runs off
winning pitcher Ethan Ogburn (5-3). Tyler Molinaro knocked in the first two
runs with a double to left center and Hunter Ridge plated him with a single to
right to make it 9-4.
NCSU answered with a run in the bottom of the frame on
Ciencin's double down the leftfield line. Chris Diaz, who scored on the hit,
finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three knocked in. Ciencin also
collected three hits and drove in four on the afternoon.
Ogburn fanned seven in 8 2/3 innings and allowed five runs
on nine hits.
For the Seahawks, Matt Campbell and Andrew Cain delivered
home runs as UNCW set a school record for homers in a NCAA regional with eight,
passing the 2003 club that connected on seven homers at LSU.
NC State piled on 22 hits with every starter collecting at
least one. Brett Austin added three hits and scored twice.