If N.C. State is going to make it through the Raleigh Regional, it will have to do so the hard way.
The top-seeded Wolfpack fell to No. 4 seed Army 5-1 in its NCAA tournament opener on Friday night.
The fourth-seeded Black Knights (37-22) manufactured runs with shrewd base-running, some timely hitting and a little help from N.C. State’s defense.
The stunning loss — it was Army’s first opening-round win in seven NCAA tournament appearances — means regional host N.C. State (40-17) will have to win its next four games — three days — without a loss.