NC State will have to do this this hard way, but so it goes, so often. The Wolfpack would have advanced to the next round of the tournament by beating Kentucky Sunday night, but the Wildcats prevailed with an 8-6 decision, forcing a winner-take-all contest Monday night.
Catcher Andy Cosgrove staked NC State to an early lead with a two-RBI double in the second inning, and Kentucky quickly answered in the next frame to even the score. Wolfpack starter Brian Brown played with fire during much of his start, and while he was decent enough to prevent a third consecutive deep dive into the bullpen, he was not good enough to deliver a win.