RALEIGH, N.C. – The Towson University baseball team battled back against #14/18 N.C. State after an early deficit Friday afternoon, ultimately falling 6-5 on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning at Doak Field in Raleigh, N.C.
 
N.C. State (6-2) got on the board in the first inning, scoring one run on two hits. The Wolfpack extended the lead to 4-0 in the third inning on four hits, including four straight singles to start the frame. Towson (1-7) responded with two runs on three hits in the fourth, highlighted by Brian Heckelman's RBI double and Taye Robinson's infield single. A single to right field in the bottom of the seventh extended the lead to three again for the Wolfpack. Towson pulled it to a one-run game in the eighth inning with two runs on three hits. The Tigers tied the game in the ninth inning courtesy of an error on a fielder's choice groundout allowing the run to score from second. A single to left field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth was enough for a 6-5 win in favor of the Wolfpack.
 
Key Stats:

• Towson outhit the Wolfpack 9-8 on the afternoon, with three Tigers picking up multi-hit games. N.C. State left 10 runners on base compared to Towson's three.
• Bobby Spencer (0-1) took the loss in relief, allowing one earned run on one hit in 0.1 innings of work with two walks surrendered. Justin Rebok went 4.0 innings in relief, allowing one earned run on one hit with one strikeout.
• Jacob Dudan (1-0) picked up the win for N.C. State with no runs allowed on no hits in 0.2 relief innings.

 
How it Happened:

• In the bottom of the first, two walks and a single loaded the bases before Nixon's single to left field plated a runner. Elijah Dickerson threw the second runner out at the plate to hold the Wolfpack to just one run in the frame.
• The Wolfpack started the bottom of the third inning with four straight singles, scoring one run on each of the last two. A sacrifice fly in the next at-bat plated one more to make it 4-0.
• Towson cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth.  Dickerson led off the inning with a single and got to second on a stolen base. Heckelman's single down the left field line scored Dickerson for the first Towson run. Robinson's infield single with Heckelman on third scored the second of the frame.
• A single to right field with runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh extended the Wolfpack lead back to three.
• The Tigers pulled to within one in the eighth inning, starting with back-to-back singles from Jordan Peyton and Dickerson. Heckelman's third hit of the day, a single down the left field line, plated the first of the frame. With runners on the corners, Heckelman's run-down lasted long enough for Dickerson to score from third for a 5-4 score.
• With Bobby Spencer on to pitch, a walk and hit batter allowed the first two runners of the frame on base. After a sacrifice bunt and intentional walk, the bases were loaded for Drew Lanphere, who dropped a single into left field for the walk-off win in favor of the Wolfpack, 6-5.

 
On Deck:
Saturday's action features a doubleheader between the Tigers and the Wolfpack. Game one starts at noon and game two is tentatively scheduled for 4:30 p.m.