AUBURN, Ala. – In a thrilling comeback, freshman Ryder Woodson’s pivotal grand slam in the eighth inning powered N.C. State to a 17-12 triumph over Stetson in an elimination matchup at the Auburn Regional on Sunday.
Woodson smashed a deep shot to left-center field, the ball bouncing off the bleacher covering and landing back on the field. Though he dashed to third as Stetson scrambled to recover the ball, the hit was declared a home run, marking Woodson’s third of the regional and his second that game, despite not hitting any home runs in the regular season across 20 games.
The striking performance also included a 10-run surge in the eighth inning for N.C. State, concluded by Brandon Novy’s remarkable inside-the-park home run.
N.C. State, now 35-20, is set to confront Auburn in the regional championship. Host team Auburn requires one victory to secure the regional title, whereas N.C. State needs two successive wins to advance to the super regionals taking place next weekend.
Earlier in the game, N.C. State established a 4-3 lead, but Stetson responded vigorously with a four-run eruption in the fifth inning. Highlights included Landon Moran’s RBI-single and Evan Griffis’s two-run triple, adding to the score when Griffis crossed home plate on a wild pitch, propelling the Hatters to a 7-4 advantage.
Stetson’s Jordan Taylor extended the lead to 8-4 with a solo homer in the sixth inning. However, N.C. State began clawing back in the seventh inning, sparked by Woodson’s first-pitch home run deep to left-center field.
Woodson showcased a standout performance, driving in five runs across three hits, elevating his batting average to .419. Novy also delivered impressively with three hits and four RBIs.
Stetson’s efforts were led by Griffis, who contributed five RBIs, and Taylor, who recorded four hits. Isaiah Barkett made a notable contribution by crossing the plate four times.
Home Woodson's Slam Fuels N.C. State's 10-Run Inning Victory