Pack baseball advances to ACC Tournament semifinals with win over Pitt

It was a late first pitch (9:08 p.m.) due to a marathon game between Louisville and Georgia Tech, but NC State and Pittsburgh faced each other with a trip to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament on the line.

NC State prevailed 3-2 thanks to stellar pitching performances from starter Reid Johnston, who struck out 10 in eight innings, and closer Evan Justice, who earned the save and fanned a pair in the ninth. The Pack is 13-0 in baseball against Pitt since the Panthers joined the ACC in 2013.

All three of NC State's runs came in the second inning, but it only had one baserunner after that, on a bunt single by center fielder Tyler McDonough in the fifth, due to a standout performance from Pitt starter Matt Gilbertson, who threw a complete game in a loss and struck out 10 Wolfpack batters.

The Pack (29-15) will face Georgia Tech in Saturday's semifinals game two, but first must complete pod play against UNC Friday evening in a scheduled 7 p.m. start. The rivalry showdown has no bearing in the ACC Tournament. UNC was defeated by Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

Below were updates from the contest.

A borderline pitch went for ball four instead of strike three for Pack closer Evan Justice to lead off the inning.

Justice then got a called strike three for the first out. A grounder back to Justice led to a force out at second, but the Pack was unable to turn the game-ending double play. An umpire's review confirmed that second baseman J.T. Jarrett held his foot on the bag for the second out.

Down to its last out, Pittsburgh shortstop Brock Franks struck out on three pitchers.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

Pitt starter Matt Gilbertson did his part, striking out the side in the ninth to give him 10 Ks for the game. He allowed just one baserunner since the second inning and faced the minimum over that span.

NC State is turning it over to Evan Justice to try to close out the game.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

Pack starter Reid Johnston strikes out two more to give him 10 for the game, and another 1-2-3 means 13 in a row retired for NC State's No. 1 pitcher. He's up to 111 pitches entering the final inning of this pitchers' duel.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

Matt Gilbertson's seventh strikeout caps another 1-2-3 inning for the Pitt starter, who is up to 119 pitches but has allowed only one baserunner since the second inning.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

It's been a pitcher's duel in Charlotte as left fielder Jonny Butler was able to run down a well-hit line drive for the third out, helping starter Reid Johnston retire his 10th batter in a row.

Johnston has reached 100 pitches thrown in the game.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

Pitt starter Matt Gilberston continues to excel as he has faced the minimum since the second inning and allowed just one base runner, a bunt single in the fifth, during that span. Another 1-2-3 inning has his pitch count up to 107 but he shows little signs of slowing down as they reach the stretch in Charlotte.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

A loud out to the warning track in right ended a 1-2-3 inning for Pack starter Reid Johnston.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

NC State goes quietly with a 1-2-3 inning, its third in the past four frames. Pitt starter Matt Gilbertson has faced the minimum since the second inning but is at 97 pitches thrown.

Pack starter Reid Johnston works his first 1-2-3 inning since the second inning.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

A one-out bunt single from center fielder Tyler McDonough provided NC State with its first base runner since the second inning, but he was doubled off on an infield liner by left fielder Jonny Butler to end the inning.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

Pittsburgh threatened with a two-out double followed by a walk, but NC State's Reid Johnston recorded a strike out to end the inning without any damage.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

For the second straight inning, NC State is retired in order.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

Three challenging grounders, one to shortstop Jose Torres and a pair to third baseman Vojtech Mensik were credited as infield singles for Pitt, and it helped the Panthers bring a run home before stranding the bases loaded.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 2

NC State is retired quickly in order.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 1

After allowing a first inning run, Pack starter Reid Johnston worked a 1-2-3 second.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 1

Two-out walks to Pack rightfielder Devonte Brown and third baseman Vojtech Mensik were followed by a triple from second baseman J.T. Jarrett, who then would score on a wild pitch to put NC State up 3-1.

NC State threatened for more, but left fielder Jonny Butler grounded out with runners at the corners for the third out.

NC State 3, Pittsburgh 1

A two-out double by Pittsburgh's Ron Washington Jr. off Pack starter Reid Johnston scored third baseman Sky Duff, who led off the inning with a bloop single to center.

The Panthers take the early advantage.

Pitt 1, NC State 0

NC State, the three seed, is the away team and bagged a couple of runners in the top half of the first, but junior designated hitter Terrell Tatum grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.