Coach Elliott Avent said he found out there was a problem 45 minutes to an hour before the game.
NC State had eight hits to Vandy’s six, and the bottom of the order went 4-for-14.
Down two runs, NC State had the bases loaded in the seventh with its leading home run hitter, Luca Tresh, at bat with two outs.
The Commodores’ offense has been slow to get started in Omaha, and they were hitless against Payne until they scored twice in the fourth.
Highfill hadn’t batted in a college game since March 4, 2020, but was a .360 hitter in high school.