Sunday’s 8-2 loss to TCU puts NC State back on hot seat in NCAA baseball

N.C. State didn’t get a hit until the seventh inning, and by then, TCU led comfortably, as the Horned Frogs cruised to an 8-2 win over the Wolfpack on Sunday night in the NCAA Fort Worth Regional.

N.C. State, which beat TCU 5-4 Saturday night to put it in the loser’s bracket, will meet the Frogs at 8 p.m. Monday for a spot in the Super Regionals.

On Sunday, Alexander controlled N.C. State by filling the strike zone – through the first six innings, 12 of the Wolfpack’s 18 outs were flyouts. Logan Ratledge broke up the perfect game by reaching on a throwing error to start the seventh. Andrew Knizner followed with a single for N.C. State’s first hit.

Preston Palmeiro then flew out to score Ratledge from third. But Alexander ended the threat with a strikeout of Bubby Riley, who left two runners on. Ratledge hit a solo homer in the ninth.

Ryan Williamson started for the Wolfpack and gave up five runs – two earned – in 22/3 innings on seven hits. Nolan Brown flared a single over third base in the second and came around to score on another lightly hit ball by Derek Odell.

Dane Steinhagen later tripled home Cody Jones and Jeremie Fagnan for the Frogs.

One positive for N.C. State was a 6-inning relief appearance from Cory Wilder, who gave up two runs but allowed the Wolfpack bullpen to rest for Monday’s game. Right-hander Evan Mendoza came on for the final out of the eighth inning.

TCU’s relievers stayed rested, too, as Alexander threw a complete-game three-hitter. Tomorrow, the Frogs will likely throw left-hander Alex Young, with bullpen specialist Trey Teakell waiting and fully rested.

This story was originally published May 31, 2015 at 11:36 PM with the headline "Sunday’s 8-2 loss to TCU puts NC State back on hot seat in NCAA baseball."