Avent Goes for 800th Win at NC State This Weekend

BOWLING GREEN – NC STATE
Date: Friday, March 2
Location: Doak Field at Dail Park
Time: 3 p.m.
Radio: WKNC 88.1 FM
Live Video: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: SideArm Live Stats

CAMPBELL – NC STATE
Date: Saturday, March 3
Location: Doak Field at Dail Park
Time: 2 p.m.
Radio: WKNC 88.1 FM
Live Video: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: SideArm Live Stats

CANISIUS – NC STATE
Date: Sunday, March 4
Location: Doak Field at Dail Park
Time: 12 p.m.
Radio: WKNC 88.1 FM
Live Video: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: SideArm Live Stats

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Zac Carey (BGSU) vs. LHP Brian Brown (NCSU)
Saturday: RHP Michael Horrell (CAM) vs. RHP Johnny Piedmonte (NCSU)
Sunday: TBA (CAN) vs. TBA (NCSU)

RALEIGH, N.C. – Now in his 22nd season leading the NC State baseball program, head coach Elliott Avent heads into the weekend searching for his 800th win with the Wolfpack. Last season, he eclipsed 1,000 career wins and is seeking another milestone this year, as he owns 799 wins as Wolfpack head coach.

NC State welcomes the Bowling Green Falcons to Doak Field at Dail Park for a 3 p.m. first pitch Friday afternoon and the Campbell Camels head to Raleigh Saturday afternoon with the contest slated for 2 p.m. On Sunday, the Wolfpack will take on Canisius at noon at Doak Field.

The Wolfpack enters the weekend with an 8-1 overall record, matching its best start through the first nine games of the season since 2014. Bowling Green owns a 2-6 record, Campbell is 3-5 and Canisius has compiled a 5-2 mark.

All three games will be broadcast live on the ACC Network Extra, accessible through Watch ESPN and the Watch ESPN App. Radio coverage will also be available on WKNC 88.1 FM and on GoPack.com for premium subscribers for all three games.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting GoPack.com/Pack9tickets.

Last Time Out
NC State has won its last six games, as the Pack surged past Air Force for a 15-5 win in its most recent outing. During the stretch, the Wolfpack has outscored opponents, 61-20.

The Series
Friday’s matchup will be the first meeting between NC State and Bowling Green.

The Wolfpack leads the all-time series with the Camels, 48-15-1. In the last meeting, Campbell slipped past NC State with a 9-8 victory at Doak Field

NC State and Canisius last met during the 2014 season when the teams split a pair of games to open the season and those are the lone meetings between the programs, as the series is tied 1-1.

Avent Milestone Wins at NC State
1 – Charleston Southern, 6-0 (1997)
100 – Cleveland State, 9-1 (1999)
200 – Davidson, 8-2 (2002)
300 – Delaware State, 3-1 (2005)
400 – Boston College, 6-2 (2007)
500 – Virginia, 6-5 (2010)
600 – Charlotte, 5-0 (2013)
700 – Florida State, 11-7 (2015)

Most Wins by An Active Power-5 Head Coach at Current School
Mike Martin, Florida State (ACC) 1952 Wins
John Anderson, Minnesota (Big 10) 1250 Wins
Jim Morris, Miami (ACC) 1065 Wins
Danny Hall, Georgia Tech (ACC) 994 Wins
Pat Casey, Oregon St. (Pac 12) 853 Wins
Mike Fox, North Carolina (ACC) 850 Wins
Elliott Avent, NC State (ACC) 799 Wins
Mike Bianco, Ole Miss (SEC) 670 Wins
Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt (SEC) 655 Wins
Jim Schlossnagle, TCU (Big 12) 619 Wins

Kinneman Turns in Unbelievable Week
After turning in one of the best weeks in the history of the NC State baseball program, Brett Kinneman has garnered the attention of several national media outlets as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

He was named the National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball, College Sports Madness, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and Perfect Game. Additionally, Kinneman was tabbed the ACC Player of the Week.

The junior outfielder hit five home runs during the week to take over the ACC lead and tie for second nationally. Kinneman hit for the home run cycle, as he hit a grand slam against N.C. A&T on Tuesday, a two-run and three-run homer on Friday and a solo homer on Saturday and Sunday against Furman.

For the week, Kinneman was 13-of-21 to compile a .619 batting average at the plate complemented by 15 RBIs and five home runs.

Wolfpack Making Its Mark
Heading into the weekend, NC State leads the ACC in hits (107), home runs (17), runs (78), runs batted in (72), total bases (179), on base percentage (.430) and is tied for the conference lead in batting average (.341).

The Wolfpack’s five saves for the pitching staff leads the league and its two shutouts is tied for the ACC lead.

McLain On a Tear
Senior Josh McLain has been on a tear for NC State at the plate, as he has hit safely in all nine games this season. Additionally, he tallied at least one hit in the final eight games of 2017 to own a 17-game hitting streak.

He has compiled a .366 average at the plate and tied for the second-most doubles in the ACC with four. Last season, McLain tied for the ACC lead with 21 for the year.

Leading Off
The Wolfpack’s leadoff batter of the inning has reached base 39 times this year and in contrast, NC State’s pitchers have only allowed the leadoff batter to reach 21 times.

NC State batters have reached base to start the inning 53.4 percent of the time and opponents have only compiled a 25.9 percent clip.

Big Innings
NC State has scored four of more runs in an inning nine times this season. The Wolfpack’s eight runs in the seventh inning of Monday’s game against Air Force is a season high.

Scouting Bowling Green
The Bowling Green Falcons head to Raleigh with a 2-6 overall record on the season after dropping its most recent game on Tuesday at Eastern Kentucky. The Falcons split a four-game set with Southeast Missouri State last weekend.

Brad Croy leads the squad offensively with a .357 batting average at the plate, while Bowling Green has compiled a team average of .259. The Falcons are averaging four runs per game.

On the mound, BGSU pitchers have logged a 5.62 team ERA. Friday starter Zac Carey is 1-0 on the year in 11.2 innings pitched with a 6.94 ERA.

Scouting Campbell
Campbell makes the short trip to Doak Field Saturday afternoon following its matchup with Canisius Friday night. The Camels own a 3-5 overall record and defeated Pepperdine in their last outing on Wednesday, 15-2.

The Camels offense has recorded a .237 batting average at the plate, scoring 39 runs over eight games. Christian Jones headlines the group with a .308 slash to go along with a team-high eight hits.

On the mound, Campbell pitchers own a 3.72 ERA in 75 innings pitched, allowing 31 earned runs. Saturday’s starting pitcher, Michael Horrell, is 1-0 on the season and has not given up a run in 11 innings pitched. He was named the Big South Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

Scouting Canisius
The Canisius Golden Griffins are 5-2 on the year following a three-game sweep at Western Carolina last weekend. The Griffs outscored the Catamounts, 24-4, over the first two games of the series.

Canisius was picked second in the Preseason MAAC Coaches Poll, behind Marist. The Golden Griffins have tallied a .275 batting average complemented by 7.29 runs per game. Conner Morro leads the way for the squad with a .379 clip at the plate, highlighted by 11 hits.

On the mound, the Griffs pitching staff has recorded a 4.50 ERA.