Wilmington’s Chance & Shane Shepard both go yard for NC State

RALEIGH, NC (NC STATE) —  No. 8 NC State baseball dropped game one of three against Wright State 10-8 on Friday at Doak Field at Dail Park.

Two home runs from Chance Shepard and Preston Palmeiro in the ninth brought the Wolfpack (3-2) within two, but the comeback fell short against the Raiders (5-0). Palmeiro extended his season-opening hitting streak to five games in a 2-for-5 showing including a run and two RBIs.

Shane Shepard smoked a two-run homer to right field in the second, part of a 3-for-4 outing with a career high three RBIs. Brock Deatherage followed Shepard’s second career bomb with a sac fly RBI, extending the NC State lead. The rally continued with Josh McLain smacking an RBI double to center, stretching the Wolfpack lead to 4-1.

Wright State responded with a two-run shot of its own in the top of the third, cutting the NC State lead to one. Another homer in the fourth tied the game up, 4-4. The Raiders took a 6-4 lead in the sixth, adding four in the seventh to go up 10-4.

Seven different Wolfpackers finished the game with a hit. The Shepard brothers led the way going a combined 5-for-8 with two home runs and five RBIs. The Shepards are the first pair of Wolfpack brothers to homer in the same game since at least 1990.

Wolfpack reliever Austin Staley (0-1) was tabbed with the loss on 1 1/3, allowing two runs and striking out one. NC State starter Ryan Williamson made his season debut, throwing four innings, allowing four earned and striking out six.

Evan Brabrand fanned one in an inning of relief. Chris Williams was efficient, shutting out the Raiders for the final 2 2/3.

NC State continues its series with Wright State tomorrow with game two at 3 PM. Streaming coverage will be provided by GoPack All-Access. Radio duties will be handled by 88.1 WKNC. Fans can follow along with live stats on GoPack.com or Twitter updates via @NCStateBaseball.