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#13 NC State Sweeps Opening Day Double Header Over Seton Hall

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RALEIGH, N.C. – The 13th-ranked NC State baseball team opened the 2018 season with a doubleheader sweep against the Seton Hall Pirates Friday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park. The Wolfpack won the first game of the day, 8-4, before taking the nightcap by a final score of 3-1.

NC State’s veteran starting pitchers, Brian Brown (Game One) and Johnny Piedmonte (Game Two), combined to allow just three hits in 13 innings pitched. The duo collected 12 strikeouts and yielded just three walks.

The Wolfpack’s offense also shined in a major way with 21 hits on the day, including three home runs. The Pack improves to 2-0 on the year, while the Pirates fall to 0-2.

Avent’s Additions…

“We had four really good practices prior to playing today and then you have to get the weather to cooperate. I thought our administration did a nice job of making a quick and good decision to move the games to today.

“I thought we did a good job of adapting to the situation and I thought our guys played well.”

Game One Recap

Brown turned in a stellar outing in the first start of his senior season, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning before having it end on a single to right field. The Glenmoore, Pa., native retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced. He finished the game with six innings pitched, one hit, one earned run and five strikeouts.

Senior Brock Deatherage ignited the Wolfpack offense with a solo homer to right field in his first at-bat of 2018 to give NC State a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. After Seton Hall knotted the score at one in the top of the sixth, the Wolfpack answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame.

Josh McLain had an RBI single in the frame and Brad Debo drove in a pair of runs on a single through the right side. Shane Shepard had the big blast in the inning with a two-run homer over the left field wall.

In the seventh inning, Deatherage helped the Pack extend the advantage to 8-1 with a two-RBI single to right field.

The Pirates added three runs in the eighth, but couldn’t get any closer as freshman Reid Johnston closed out the game to give NC State the 8-4 win.

Inside the Box Score

– Deatherage led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 2-for-3 outing, complemented by a solo home run and three RBI.

– Shepard was also 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Stephen Pitarra turned in a 2-for-3 performance as well.

– The Wolfpack was 7-of-18 with runners on base and 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Game Two Recap

Seton Hall struck first in game two of the doubleheader with a run in the top of the first. From there, Piedmonte was dominant retiring the next 13 batters and did not allow another baserunner until the sixth inning.

NC State knotted the game at one in the bottom of the third when freshman Terrell Tatum raced around to score from second base following a throwing error by Seton Hall. The second run for the Pack came on an infield fly call with the bases loaded, as Will Wilson scored from third base after the ball fell to the ground out of reach of the Pirates shortstop.

Deatherage left the yard for the second time on the day in the bottom of the fourth, when he crushed a 2-2 pitch over the scoreboard in right field to push the Wolfpack lead to 3-1. NCSU threatened again in the seventh by putting runners at second and third with two outs, but was not able to score out of it.

Piedmonte gave way to Nolan Clenney, who made his NC State debut in the contest after transferring into the program, in the eighth. Piedmonte struck out seven batters in seven innings pitched with only two hits allowed. Clenney threw an inning and a third before hading the ball to Kent Klyman with one out in the ninth.

Klyman struck out the only batter he faced, and Joe O’Donnell entered the game to nail down the save by getting a popup to Shepard in foul territory to end it.

Inside the Box Score

– NC State pitchers limited Seton Hall to just three hits in the game and 1-for-7 with runners on base.

– Deatherage was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, while Tatum was also 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Game Notes

– McLain tallied a hit in each game to extend his hitting streak to 10 games dating back to last season.

– Wilson reached base safely in both games and has reached safely in each of the past 18 games he has played.

– Friday’s matchups were the first with Seton Hall, as NC State leads the all-time series, 2-0.

– The Wolfpack won its season opener for the second consecutive season.

Up Next

NC State and Seton Hall will return to the field for the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.

NC State Baseball

NC State is Back in the Top-25 After Three Top-25 Wins Last Week

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After 3 Top-25 wins last week (1 over Coastal Carolina & 2 over Duke), NC State’s Baseball team is back in the Top-25 in 4 of the 5 polls. Last week was the only week that the Wolfpack hasn’t been ranked all season, after losing 1 game to UNCG, and losing all 3 at Georgia Tech.

USAToday Coaches Poll – #22

D1Baseball – #22

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Baseball America – #25

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NCBWA – #25

 

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NC State Baseball

NC State Loses Series Finale 2-13, but Wins Series vs. #9 Duke

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NC State lost the series finale 2-13 yesterday, but won the series against #9 Duke.

Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz was the sole source of offense, knocking in both runs on two solo Home Runs. A-Mak now has 10 Home Runs on the year. Makarewicw’s batting average is .359, and his OPS is 1.226.

Sophomore Dominic Fritton’s struggles continue, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) in 4 innings, striking out 5. His ERA on the season is 8.37, with a 1-2 record.

Fritton isn’t the only pitcher that struggled.

Senior Hollis Fanning gave up 5 runs in 2.1 innings in relief. His ERA in the year is 7.30.

Junior Carson Kelly gave up three runs in 0.2 innings pitched. His ERA is 27.00 in 2 appearances.

Despite losing in this way in the finale, NC State had a heck of a week, beating #13 Coastal Carolina in a midweek game, and taking 2 of 3 against #9 Duke.

The Wolfpack will look to get revenge tomorrow night at 6pm against UNCG. Two weeks ago, they lost to the Spartans 3-18 in a midweek game.

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NC State Secures Series Win Against #9 Duke With a 9-8 Walk-Off Victory Over #9 Duke

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After pulling off heroics in the 8th inning last night, NC State decided to make it even more exciting last night, shifting their heroics to the bottom of the 9th.

With #9 Duke leading 8-3 in the Bottom of the 9th inning, the Wolfpack would need a miracle, and sometimes you get exactly what you need.

Sometimes a miracle starts with a little bit of luck. With 1 out, Sophomore Josh Hogue grounded into a fielders choice, where as a result of an error, he ended up at 2nd, Senior Noah Outfielder Soles ended up at 3rd and Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth ended running across home plate.

Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington would then hit a 3-run Home Run, cutting Duke’s lead to 2.

With 2 outs left, Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III hit a 2-run walk-off bomb, giving NC State a 9-8 series clinching win over #9 Duke.

Senior Starting Pitcher Logan Whitaker wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible either. He gave up 4 earned runs in 4 innings pitched.

Junior Win Scott pitched in relief for the first time since February 28th, giving up 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings pitched.

Freshman Heath Andrews was up next, pitching for the first time since March 10th, giving up 2 earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched.

Sophomore Derrick Smith picked up his first Win of the season, pitching a scoreless 8th inning.

Pennington, Serrano III and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart all had 2 hits apiece.

Pennington had 2 Home Runs and 4 RBI’s, giving him 5 on the year.

Serranno III and Soles each had 2 RBI’s apiece, both coming off of Home Runs.

After falling out of the Top-25 on Monday, NC State has won 3 straight games against Top-15 opponents, and they will look to make that 4 straight tomorrow as the Wolfpack and Blue Devils close out the series at 1pm.

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NC State Wins Series Opener Against #9 Duke Behind a Solid Highfill Performance

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NC State is rebounding in a major way this week. After losing all 4 games last week (Midweek vs. UNCG & swept at GT), the Wolfpack defeated #13 Coastal Carolina in a midweek game, and defeated #9 Duke 4-3 in the series opener tonight at home.

The Wolfpack were carried by a solid outing by starter Sam Highfill, who gave up 3 runs over 7 innings, while striking out 8. Highfill is now 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA.

Freshman Jacob Dudan continues to impress, picking up the Save, throwing 2 scoreless innings. Dudan now has 3 Saves on the year, and is rocking a 2.70 ERA.

With the game tied 3-3, Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 7th, knocking in Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz.

The other 3 RBI’s weren’t exciting in nature, with Sophomore Left Fielder and Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington bringing in Runs on groundouts, and Freshman 2nd Baseman ushering in a Run with a Walk with the bases loaded.

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