RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — Sherman Johnson hit a grand slam in the eighth inning and drove in five runs as North Carolina State defeated Miami 12-7 on Saturday afternoon at Doak Field.

The Wolfpack, who split a doubleheader with the Hurricanes on Friday, won the Atlantic Coast Conference series two games to one and improved to 30-17. Miami fell to 33-14.

Johnson finished 3 for 5 with a home run, a double and five RBIs. Luke Nixon added two home runs, going 2 for 4 with four RBIs. Nixon hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and a solo shot in the seventh.

Miami took a 7-2 lead in the fourth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring five runs. Max Galvin had four hits in five at-bats with two RBIs, and the Hurricanes collected 14 hits overall. North Carolina State also had 14 hits.

Wolfpack starter Anderson Nance earned the win, allowing two earned runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings with nine strikeouts. Miami starter AJ Ciscar pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on zero hits while striking out four.

The most decisive sequence came in the bottom of the eighth. With the score 8-7 in favor of North Carolina State after a home run from Nixon and a go-ahead single from Anthony Serrano in the seventh, the Wolfpack loaded the bases on a single by Johnson, a walk to Nixon and a walk to Ty Head. Johnson then launched his grand slam to deep left field, pushing the lead to 12-7.

Miami had taken command in the top of the fourth. Trailing 2-0, the Hurricanes loaded the bases on a Galvin single, a Daniel Williams single and a walk to Brandon Sosa. Dorian West then singled up the middle to drive in two runs, tying the game. A sacrifice bunt by David Alvarez led to an error that allowed Sosa to score, giving Miami a 3-2 lead. After a flyout, Jack Milano singled to score West, and Anderson Peralta singled to bring home Alvarez.

The Hurricanes added two more runs in the sixth on a double by Galvin that scored Peralta and Ogden. Miami led 7-2.

North Carolina State responded in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, a fielder’s choice and a throwing error put runners on the corners. Nixon then homered to deep right field, cutting the margin to 7-5.

Nixon’s second home run, a solo shot in the seventh, made it 7-6. Miami then changed pitchers, but Johnson doubled to score Head and tie the game at 7. Serrano singled up the middle to bring home Johnson, giving the Wolfpack an 8-7 lead.

Miami had a chance in the top of the ninth, loading the bases on an error and two singles, but reliever Anderson Nance struck out two batters and induced a groundout to end the game.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Miami 6, North Carolina State 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Wolfpack a 55.00 percent probability to win.