NC State Baseball
NC State Finds Their Way Back Into the Top-25 in 1 Poll After Series Win at Clemson
NC State won 2 of their 4 games last week, winning 2 out of 3 against Clemson on the road this past weekend, and losing to UNCW on the road in a midweek game. Prior to the 2 victories against the Tigers, the Wolfpack had lost 5 straight games, suffering a sweep at Louisville the weekend before.
As a result of NC State’s big series victory at Clemson, the Wolfpack are back in Baseball America’s Top-25.
NC State didn’t manage to crack the Top-25 for D1Baseball, Perfect Game or the USAToday Coaches Poll. The Wolfpack currently rank 31st in the Coaches Poll.
The NCBWA Poll hasn’t been released yet.
NC State will host Campbell tomorrow night at 6pm, which will be followed up by a series at the Doak this weekend against rival #11 UNC.
NC State didn’t pull of the sweep, falling to #2 Clemson 0-7 on the road this afternoon. Despite the loss, the Wolfpack did take 2 of 3 on the road against the team that entered the weekend ranked #1 in the RPI.
Freshman Cooper Consiglio got the start for the Pack today, and it’s a shame he was tagged with the Loss, because he pitched the first Quality Start of his career, giving up 2 earned runs in 6 innings pitched, striking out 3.
The bullpen didn’t help Consiglio today, with Freshman Heath Andrews surrendering 3 earned runs in 0.1 innings, while Sophomore Andrew Shaffner gave up 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings.
The Tigers limited NC State to only 2 hits, and they were singles by Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington and Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth.
The Wolfpack are now 20-13 overall, and 10-8 in conference play heading into a midweek game against Campbell at home on Tuesday night at 6pm. NC State currently ranks 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
NC State (20-12) shut out Clemson (28-6) 4-0 this evening, clinching the series against the #2 team in the land on the road.
We’ve been waiting all year for Sophomore Dominic Fritton to return to form, and he picked a good time to do so, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out 6. The 5.2 innings is his highest of the season, and it’s the first time all season he has pitched, and the other team has scored 0 runs.
The man of the hour, full postgame interview from @DominicFritton 👏 pic.twitter.com/SSsIa5PRC4
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 14, 2024
Fritton was followed by Freshman Jacob Dudan and Sophomore Derrick Smith, who kept the shutout alive. Dudan allowed 2 hits and 3 walks, but didn’t allow a run in 1.1 innings, and Smith didn’t allow a hit (1 walk) in 2 innings.
Leaving. Them. Loaded.
HUGE punchout from @DudanJacob 🗣 pic.twitter.com/VwgiCqxpK1
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 14, 2024
D-Rock put the game on ice 🥶 pic.twitter.com/cnBDsZhNKI
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 14, 2024
Pitching hasn’t been NC State’s strong suit in 2024, but it was tonight, against Sophomore Ethan Darden, who pitched a gem himself, giving up 1 earned run (3 unearned runs) in 9 innings, while striking out 5 (no walks).
Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s and a Run.
A-Mak attacks the first pitch 👊 pic.twitter.com/YOUeJtcjxq
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 14, 2024
Leaving. Them. Loaded.
HUGE punchout from @DudanJacob 🗣 pic.twitter.com/VwgiCqxpK1
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 14, 2024
The Matrix (1999)#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/7bDWaR7peE
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 14, 2024
The Wolfpack and the Tigers will close out the series tomorrow at 1pm.
NC State Baseball
NC State Picks up a Huge 11-8 Win Against #2 Clemson on the Road in the Series Opener
NC State picked up a desperately needed win against #2 Clemson tonight, defeating the Tigers 11-8 on the road.
Senior Sam Highfill was back on the mound this Friday, but Mayor struggled, giving up 6 runs in 3.1 innings. Thankfully, Sophomore Shane Van Dam came in and quieted Clemson, giving up 1 earned run (2 runs) in 4.2 innings, striking out 8 batters, which is a new career high.
Sophomore Right Fielder Josh Hogue put the Pack on the board in the Top of the 1st with a solo Home Run.
Look up and watch it fly 👋#Pack9 | @JoshHogue5 pic.twitter.com/mALz0qgUuu
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 12, 2024
Clemson would then go up 2-1 in the Bottom of the 1st with a 2-run Home Run.
NC State would regain the lead again in the Top of the 4th, putting 4 runs on the board. Junior Jacob Cozart grounded out to 2nd, but it was good enough to drive in Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington. Then Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III drove in two with a Double, and then Redshirt Freshman Drew Lanphere drove him in with a Single.
Two-out swingin’, two-out damage 😤#Pack9 | @eliserrano__ pic.twitter.com/nwgJjJgzM3
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 12, 2024
Fear the ‘Phere 👊 pic.twitter.com/ie3aEFUw86
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 12, 2024
The Tigers would answer with 4 runs of their own in the Bottom of the 4th.
In the Top of the 5th, the Wolfpack caught a break. With 2 outs, Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth reached 1st on a throwing error, which allowed Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz and Hogue to come home. Serrano III would then take advantage of the opportunity, driving in 2 more with a Single.
Another two-out, two-RBI hit for No. 16 🔥#Pack9 | @eliserrano__ pic.twitter.com/RiHTwDRmhn
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 12, 2024
The Tigers would make it a 1-run game in the Bottom of the 5th, scoring 2.
The Wolfpack would add a run in the 8th via an RBI Single from A-Mak, and another one in the 9th from Freshman 2nd Baseman Luke Nixon to make it a 3-run cushion.
Dropping it in for a score 🫳#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/MmDH9TJaPd
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 13, 2024
Serrano III was the MVP at the plate for NC State today, going 3 for 4 with 4 RBI’s and 2 Runs.
Van Dam was the MVP on the mound. He is now 4-0 on the year, with a 2.63 ERA. Stud.
NC State (19-12) and Clemson (28-5) will take to the field tomorrow at 8pm.
I feel like the final rotation is becoming more clear:
Dennis/Markell
Terry/Mav
Torin/Mav/Shaun
Abu/Darius
Kapita/Yurt7/Anya
I see less minutes for Darius, Anya, and Shaun. Although I would really like to see Shaun get more minutes. Darius should be ready to start by next season. Torin looks like he’ll lead team in MPG.
Team really attacked this game. Made their adjustments from last game and didn’t jack up so many long jumpers. Also helped that Mav wasn’t in the game so we didn’t have a lot of good shooters out there.
Ted Kapita. Wow man. 7 of 8 shooting, 17 pts, 8 rebounds. Hell of a 1st game. I feel like Kapita is going to squeeze the minutes from Anya and Hicks. It’s going to be tough when Yurt7 joins because there’s not going to be enough minutes for all the bigs.
Much better showing for Wolfpack. Torin was the man again. Maybe my new favorite player. Refs again were bad. 2 of the fouls on Dennis were just head scratchers? One on the blocked shot and the other on the scramble for the loose ball.
Very excited about Dorn and Kapita. It will be hard to keep him off the court if he continues to play like he did today. But having too many big guys and not enough minutes is a problem Im OK with.