RALEIGH, N.C. - Senior rightfielder Drew Poulk led off the bottom of the tenth inning with a game-winning home run over the left centerfield as North Carolina State (30-18) earned a 6-5 non-conference victory over the Tigers (16-33) in the second game of their three-game weekend series at Doak Park on Saturday evening.
Poulk, who hit a grand slam homer in the series opener on Friday night, blasted the first pitch of the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Wolfpack its second consecutive win over the Tigers. It was his ninth home run of the season.
For the Tigers, it was their fifth loss in a row. It was also their third loss in nine one-run games and their second loss in four extra inning games.
The Tigers, who outhit NC State by a 12-8 margin, rallied from a 5-3 eighth inning deficit to send the game into extra innings.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore centerfielder Ben Winter led off the game with a double down the left field line. After junior shortstop Nick Natoli struck out, senior rightfielder Kevin Collins was retired on a fly ball to centerfield. Senior first baseman Steve Yarsinsky gave the Tigers a lead when he lined an RBI single to left field, driving home Winter with the first run of the game. Yarsinsky was thrown out at second base as he tried to stretch his base hit into a double. He was injured on the play and freshman Cody Reeves replaced him at first base.
However, the Tigers' lead didn't last very long. After freshman righthander Michael Trionfo struck out senior second baseman Dallas Poulk for the first out, he issued a walk to sophomore designated hitter Pratt Maynard. When sophomore third baseman Andrew Ciencin grounded out to the pitcher, Maynard advanced to second base with two outs. Maynard moved to third base on a wild pitch by Trionfo. Then Trionfo walked sophomore first baseman Harold Riggins to put runners on first and third base. When Trionfo threw another wild pitch, Riggins advanced to second base, giving the Wolfpack two runners in scoring position.
Drew Poulk gave NC State a 2-1 lead when he lined a two-run single to left field, scoring both runners. Trionfo pitched out of the inning when he struck out junior catcher Chris Schaeffer.
When NC State took a 2-1 lead in the first inning, it marked the eighth consecutive game that Towson trailed after the first inning.
In the second inning, the Tigers regained the lead with the help of two errors by Schaeffer. With one out, junior designated hitter Steve Rice doubled to right field. Junior third baseman Austin Harclerode followed with a single to rightfield, extending his hitting streak to 21 games. Rice tried to score from second base and Drew Poulk's throw to the plate appeared to nail him. However, Schaeffer dropped the throw and Rice scored to tie the game.
After Harclerode stole second base, freshman leftfielder Kurt Wertz drew a walk. When Harclerode and Wertz pulled off a double steal, Schaeffer's throw to second base went into centerfield, allowing Harclerode to score as Wertz advanced to third base. With Wertz on third base, sophomore catcher Brian Wyman tried to squeeze home a run with a bunt. However, junior righthander Jake Buchanan fielded the bunt and threw home to retire Wertz. Winter followed with his second double of the game to give the Tigers runners on second and third. However, Buchanan pitched out of the inning when he retired Natoli on a ground ball to shortstop.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Wolfpack tied the game, thanks to a leadoff triple by freshman Tarran Senay. After Senay's triple, sophomore centerfielder John Gianis drove in a run when he grounded out to first base. Trionfo retired the next two hitters to end the inning.
NC State took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring an unearned run. Maynard led off the inning by reaching base on an error by Reeves, the Tigers' first baseman. Maynard moved up to second base when Ciencin grounded out to third base. When Riggins lined a single up the middle, Maynard scored to give the Wolfpack a lead. Trionfo retired the final two hitters to escape the inning with no further damage.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, NC State increased its lead to 5-3. After Gianis doubled to left centerfield, Dallas Poulk lined an RBI double to left centerfield, driving in another run. Trionfo struck out Maynard for the final out of the inning.
After Trionfo pitched a scoreless fifth inning, he was relieved by sophomore righthander Sean Bertrand. Bertrand shut out NC State in the sixth and seventh innings.
Trailing by 5-3 in the eighth inning, the Tigers cut their deficit to one run when junior second baseman Chris Wychock belted his 11th home run of the season over the left centerfield fence.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Bertrand ran into trouble with two outs. After hitting Schaeffer with a pitch, he issued a walk to junior Russell Wilson. With two runners on base and two outs, he was relieved by junior righthander Drew Permison. Permison walked Gianis to load the bases before he pitched out of the jam by striking out freshman shortstop Matt Bergquist.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Tigers rallied to tie the game. With one out, Wyman reached base on an infield single. He was replaced by sophomore pinch runner Brady Baxter. After Winter was retired on a fly ball to centerfield, Natoli drilled an RBI triple down the rightfield line as Baxter scored the tying run. With the go-ahead run on third base, freshman righthander Anthony Tzamtzis elected to intentionally walk Collins. Collins immediately stole second base, putting two runners in scoring position. However, Tzamtzis escaped the jam by striking out Reeves.
After Permison retired the Wolfpack in the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers had a chance to take a lead in the top of the tenth inning. With one out, Rice singled to left field. When Harclerode singled to right field, Rice advanced to second base. Both runners moved into scoring position when Wertz grounded out to first base. However, Tzamtzis retired freshman catcher Andrew Parker on a ground ball to second base.
In the bottom of the tenth, Drew Poulk blasted Permison's first pitch over the left centerfield fence for a game-winning home run.
Winter, Wychock, Wyman, Rice and Harclerode led the Tigers' 12-hit attack with two hits each.
Trionfo pitched the first five innings for Towson and allowed four earned runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Bertrand threw 2.2 shutout innings and allowed one hit with two walks and one strikeouts.
Permison, who suffered the loss, allowed one run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.
Tzamtzis, who upped his record to 4-2, pitched 1.2 innings of relief and allowed one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. In six innings, Buchanan surrendered only one earned run on seven hits. He issued three walks and posted seven strikeouts.
Drew Poulk led the Wolfpack with three hits and three runs batted in. Gianis had two doubles and drove in one run.
Towson and North Carolina State will close out their three-game weekend series on Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 game.
