May 23, 1998

NCAA West Regional
Friday, May 22, 1998
Game #6

STANFORD, Calif.--Down 10-3 going into the bottom of the eighth, North Carolina State (41-22) scored 10 runs on four hits, one error and six walks to defeat Alabama (44-17), 13-10, in game #6 of the NCAA West Regional at Sunken Diamond.

North Carolina State's Todd DeMakes hit a two-run single off of Alabama reliever Pete Fisher to break a 10-10 tie and give to Wolfpack their first lead of the game. Josh Ballard hit a safety squeeze in the next at bat, scoring Craig Lee to give North Carolina State its final 13-10 victory.

The losing pitcher for Alabama was Paul Phillips (1-1, 0.3, 0 hits, three earned runs, three walks), who relieved starter Justin Smith (7.0 innings, nine hits, seven earned runs, four walks, six strikeouts). The winning pitcher for the Wolfpack was reliever Scott Dobson (2-1), who pitched the eighth inning. Bubba Scarce got his first save of the season with no hits and a walk and a strikeout in the ninth.

Top hitter for North Carolina State was DeMakes, who went 4-for-5 with three RBI. G.W. Keller (3-for-5, home run, two RBI) and Jayson Cox (4-for-5, two home runs, four RBI) had outstanding games at the plate for Alabama.

"I was sitting there in shock, then a lot of fortunite things happen for us in the eighth inning," said North Carolina State head coach Elliott Avent. "It was a big win for NC State."

Alabama                 400 032 100     x   10  18  4
North Carolina State    011 001 0(10)x  x   13  10  2

WP:  Dobson (2-1)       LP:  P. Phillips (1-1)      Save: Scarce (1)
2B:  Frick (12), Wood (5), Ward (29),DeMakes (7)        
3B: Piercy (7), C. Lee (3)
HR:  Keller (13), Cox 2 (14)

Battery:Smith, P. Phillips, Fisher and Frick (UA). Dorn, Hughes, Carter, Borden, Dobson, Scarce and Piercy, Ferguson (NCS)

POST-GAME QUOTES

Alabama Head Coach Jim Wells:

"I thought we hit the ball very well tonight and I was very pleased with our hitting."

"It's very disappointing."

(On Paul Phillips) "We had full confidence in him. He just didn't have it today. I would say it's the toughest (game) I've ever experienced."

North Carolina State head coach Elliott Avent:

"I was sitting there in shock, then a lot of fortunite things happened for us in the eighth inning. It was a big win for NC State."