In a thrilling baseball matchup, the NC State Wolfpack staged a late comeback to secure a hard-fought 5-4 victory over the Tar Heels of UNC on Friday night. Despite numerous miscues throughout the game, NC State's resilience paid off as they rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure both the win and the series victory.

UNC got off to a quick start, striking first for the second consecutive night with a solo home run by Vance Honeycutt in the first inning. It seemed to be a frustrating night for NC State as Brandon Butterworth's laser hit fell just short of clearing the left field wall in the second inning.

However, the Wolfpack responded in the third inning when Luke Nixon was hit by a pitch and Eli Serrano followed with a single, moving Nixon to third. Garrett Pennington then delivered a clutch double down the left field corner, allowing Nixon to score and tying the game.

Unfortunately, NC State couldn't capitalize on the opportunity as the next three batters were retired, leaving runners stranded on base. UNC regained the lead in the fourth inning with Parks Harber's solo home run, followed by a two-run fifth inning fueled by Gavin Gallaher's long ball and an Alex Madera walk.

NC State had their own near-miss homer in the fifth inning when Luke Nixon's hit ricocheted off the right field wall, resulting in an out at second base. The game remained at a score of 4-1 until the bottom of the seventh when NC State narrowed the gap. Luke Nixon drew a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball, and scored on Serrano's single to center field.

The momentum shifted in the eighth inning when Jaxon Lucas shut down UNC's offense, giving NC State a chance to rally. Josh Hogue and Alec Makarewicz kick-started the inning with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt by Jacob Cozart resulted in a fielder's choice, but ultimately paved the way for Brandon Butterworth's crucial single, driving in Makarewicz and moving Cozart to third base.

A wild pitch allowed Cozart to score, putting the Wolfpack ahead. Chase Nixon's groundout advanced Butterworth to third base, and a passed ball scored him, increasing the lead to 5-4.

In the final inning, pitcher Jacob Dudan took the mound and shut down any potential threat from UNC. He induced two groundballs and struck out Honeycutt to secure the win for NC State.

The Wolfpack out-hit the Tar Heels 11-5 in the game, with Pennington, Serrano, Hogue, and Butterworth all recording multiple hits. Dominic Fritton started the game for NC State, although he wasn't as sharp as in his previous outing against Clemson.

With this hard-fought victory, NC State now looks to sweep the series in their next game against UNC on Saturday at 3:00 pm. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra via the ESPN app, allowing fans to witness what promises to be another thrilling showdown between these fierce rivals.