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#12 NC State Shuts Out Furman 10-0 in Opener

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RALEIGH, N.C. – The 12th-ranked NC State baseball team scored a season-high 10 runs and was stellar on the mound, as Wolfpack pitchers did not allow a walk en route to a 10-0 shutout victory against the Furman Paladins Friday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.

The Wolfpack plated three runs in the fourth inning, five in the sixth and added two runs in the seventh inning to reach double-digit runs scored for the first time this season. NC State moves to 5-1 on the year, while Furman falls to 3-2.

Avent Additions

Overall thoughts…
“We played well today and it’s the best we’ve played this season. Furman’s a good ball club and it’s going to be a big series. We’ve got four games in four days and that will be nine games in 11 days. That’s a tough stretch for our guys, especially in addition to their academics.”

Thoughts on the team’s pitching performance…
“Our pitching staff has been so impressive this year because we’re not walking people. The most we’ve had in any game has been three and we didn’t have any today with three different pitchers.

“I thought Brian [Brown] was outstanding today and had command of everything. That’s a good team that he shut out today.”

Quick Hits
– Dillon Cooper opened the scoring for NC State in the bottom of the fourth, as he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Patrick Bailey from third base and give the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead.
– Two batters later, Josh McLain followed with a two-RBI double off the wall in left center to push the Pack’s advantage to 3-0.
– Brock Deatherage walked to start the sixth, stole second base and then stole third to score on a single by Cooper.
– McLain drove in his second run of the day with a single to right field, allowing Cooper to score and make it a 5-0 NC State lead.
– Brett Kinneman broke the game open with a three-run homer to deep right field, as the Wolfpack went ahead, 8-0.
– He left the yard for the second time on the day in his next at-bat, as he belted a two-run blast to center field. It was the second multi-homer run game of Kinneman’s career and the first of the year for NC State.

On the Mound
– Senior Brian Brown started on the mound for the Wolfpack and was tremendous, striking out eight in seven innings pitched to earn the win (2-0). He allowed just three hits (all singles) and did not walk a batter.
– Sophomore Michael Bienlien pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts and redshirt freshman Connor Centala worked a 1-2-3 ninth in his collegiate debut.

Inside the Box Score
– Kinneman led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance, highlighted by five RBIs and a pair of homers.
– Cooper was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while McLain turned in a 2-for-5 showing with three RBI.
– NC State recorded a .400 clip at the plate with runners in scoring position and a .364 average with runners on base.

Game Notes
– Kinneman’s five RBIs in the contest give him 12 for the week and he takes over as the ACC leader in that category.
– Brown has struck out 13 batters in 13 innings pitched this season and has allowed just one run to compile a 0.69 ERA.
– McLain stretched his hitting streak to 14 games, dating back to 2017, with a double in the fourth inning.
– Will Wilson singled in the first inning to push his reached base safely streak to 22 games, dating back to last season.

Up Next
NC State returns to the diamond for game two of the series against Furman on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

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 Baseball

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 Baseball

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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