Torres blasts NC State to CWS in stunner
Sometimes all it takes is one swing of the bat to etch your name in the history books.
North Carolina State shortstop Jose Torres will go down in Wolfpack lore for blasting a go-ahead solo homer in the ninth inning against top-ranked Arkansas, sending North Carolina State to the College World Series. Torres, MLB Pipeline’s 72nd-ranked Draft prospect, was 0-for-3 prior to his clutch homer, but that final at-bat was all that mattered as the Wolfpack held on to the one-run lead and downed the Razorbacks, 3-2.
His late-inning heroics helped NC State punch its ticket to Omaha for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2013. Torres hit three home runs in the Super Regional as the Wolfpack denied Arkansas its 11th trip to the College World Series, a number that would have tied the Razorbacks for 13th all-time.
Torres’ blast even caught the attention of one of the program's most notable alumni, former Minor Leaguer and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
Wilson has performed in plenty of high-leverage moments in his NFL career, including winning a Super Bowl in 2014, but never had a moment quite as clutch on the diamond in the Minor Leagues for the Yankees, Rangers and Rockies.
Other top performers and scores from Sunday's Super Regionals:
Virginia 4, DBU 0
Cavaliers third baseman Zack Gelof, the No. 136-ranked Draft prospect, helped Virginia force a decisive Game 3 against Dallas Baptist with a solo homer. Gelof went 1-for-3 with a walk, and he and the Cavaliers will look to join Torres and the Wolfpack in Omaha with a win Monday.
No. 5 Arizona 16, No. 12 Ole Miss 3
Wildcats tandem Branden Boissiere and Ryan Holgate were key pieces in the Wildcats’ blowout. Boissiere, the No. 151-ranked Draft prospect, smacked two doubles, including a bases-clearing three-run two-bagger in a seven-run fourth. He racked up five RBIs and went 4-for-6 at the dish. Holgate, ranked No. 97, hit a two-run dinger to kick off the scoring in the seven-run fourth, going 3-for-4 on the night. Arizona will be making its 18th CWS appearance, tied for seventh all time.