FAYETTEVILLE — With his team’s season on the line, North Carolina State coach Elliott Avent handed the ball freshman pitcher Sam Highfill on Saturday.
Highfill responded by allowing just one hit over his first six innings. His performance led North Carolina State to a 6-5 victory that set up a Sunday winner-take-all game at the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional.
It came before a crowd of 11,084 fans at Baum-Walker Stadium that was electric after Charlie Welch’s second-inning homer put the Razorbacks ahead 2-0 in the second inning.
“I just told Sam outside I thought it was the best game he’s ever pitched if you consider all of the circumstances of the meaning of the game, the crowd, but mostly the heat,” Avent said following a game that was played in a 101-degree heat index.
“It was just really hard for him to throw a breaking ball early and get a grip on that thing, so he had to throw a lot of fastballs today. But I thought it was his best game.
“Sam likes to pitch quick. He’s a pitcher that gets the ball and throws it, but today he had to take his time and become a different pitcher. That’s a quality of a competitor and a bulldog, which Sam is.”
Highfill (8-2) allowed 4 (3 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks, and struck out 5 in 6 1/3 innings before turning things over to Wolfpack closer Evan Justice. Justice recorded the final eight outs.
“I don’t know if it was the best I have ever thrown, but that’s a heck of a compliment,” Highfill said. “I battled out there. It was tough with the heat. (Avent) mentioned that a few times and it was, but given the circumstances and situation and the team we were playing against, it couldn’t have gone much better I guess.”
After Welch’s homer, Highfill retired 16 consecutive batters before Brady Slavens’ seventh-inning solo blast cut North Carolina State’s lead to 6-3.
Highfill has won three consecutive postseason decisions, including over Louisiana Tech and Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament. He also won a game against Georgia Tech at the ACC Tournament.
“It is a lot off fun,” Highfill said. “You are right, it has gotten bigger each week. I just try to not think about too many things and just got out there and try to get outs.”
It was quite a turnaround from Arkansas' 21-2 win Friday night in the series opener. Avent disputed a reporter who described it as one of the most embarrassing loses in NC State history.
“They’re all big and this one obviously is really big to beat a great Arkansas team, pretty much the No. 1 team in the country all year, winning the SEC, this crowd, this environment, but I disagree with one thing,” Avent said. “I don’t think it was an embarrassing loss yesterday. Obviously the score was lopsided...but when you’re playing with 240 teams sitting at home, I don’t think there’s anything embarrassing about that.”
Highfill said Avent put the Game 1 loss in proper context.
“Yesterday, we weren’t even down and (Avent said) that we could either forget about it and move on or we could dwell on it,” Highfill said. “He said he is not going to dwell on it, and I think that is a big reason the way we came out today.”
Avent credited his players for Saturday's win.
“Good players who are committed to each other, they’ve done this all year and nothing needed to be said," Avent said. "That’s all you can do about that.”
Arkansas (50-12) and NC State (34-18) will meet Sunday at 5 p.m for a berth in the College World Series.
The Wolfpack have won eight consecutive games following a loss and will likely pitch a combination of Matt Willadsen (5-3, 4.97 ERA), Chris Villaman (5-2, 4.42 ERA) and Justice on Sunday.
“This is the most impressive group I think I’ve ever had,” Avent said. “It reminds me so much of the first team I was fortunate enough to coach (at NC State)…and we’ve had great, great teams in between. But when you use the word 'resilience' and you use the word 'toughness,' I instantly think of this team.”