RALEIGH, N.C. — Behind a barrage of home runs and a dominant outing from Tristan Helmick, Lafayette secured an 11-6 victory over No. 13 NC State on Friday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.

The win for the Leopards is the first win over an ACC or Power Four school since the Maroon and White defeated Notre Dame, 10-2, in 2017. 

Lafayette wasted no time taking the lead in the first inning. After Liam Ebbs singled and both Jack Mislan and Brandon Doubek drew walks, Boden Fernsler cleared the bases with a grand slam to left field. Bode Grieve immediately followed with a solo shot of his own, punctuating a five-run opening frame. The Leopards extended their lead in the second inning when Ebbs connected for a solo home run to deep center field, to bring the score to 6-0.

The power display continued in the fourth inning as Ryan Ulisse launched a two-run homer to center, scoring Bode Grieve and making the tally 8-0.

NC State broke through in the fifth and sixth innings with RBI-singles from Rett Johnson and Sherman Johnson, cutting the Lafayette lead to 8-2.

Ebbs added his second solo home run of the day in the seventh, and Ulisse also hit his second home run of the game with a two-run blast in the ninth, extending the Lafayette lead to 11-2.

The Wolfpack mounted a serious threat in the bottom of the ninth, highlighted by a three-run home run from Ty Head. However, Owen Basso entered the game to record the final two outs and preserve the 11-6  victory for the Maroon and White.

Helmick earned the win, stifling the NC State bats for much of the afternoon, throwing 8.0 innings and allowing just two runs on eight hits, while striking out three. Julien Peissel took the loss for NC State, surrendering five runs on three hits in one inning of work.

Lafayette is next in action on Saturday when it takes on NC State at 2 p.m.