NC State Baseball
NC State Baseball Edged 3-2 by Canisius to Snap Eight-Game Win Streak
RALEIGH, N.C. – The 10th-ranked NC State baseball team saw its eight-game winning streak come to a close Sunday afternoon, as the Canisius Golden Griffins slipped past the Wolfpack with a 3-2 win at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The Wolfpack had the tying and the go-ahead run aboard in the ninth, but was not able to get the equalizer. NC State falls to 10-2 on the year, while Canisius, the preseason favorite in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), moves to 8-3.
Quick Hits
– Will Wilson gave NC State a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, as he ripped his third home run of a season.
– The sophomore shortstop crushed an 0-1 pitch from Canisius starter J.P. Stevenson over the left field wall, homering for the second consecutive game.
– Canisius answered in the top half of the fourth to even the score at 2-2, after a solo homer from Ryan Stekl and an RBI single from Conner Morro.
– Both teams were held scoreless from the fourth through the eighth innings, but the Golden Griffins pulled ahead 3-2 in the top of the ninth.
– A leadoff walk proved costly for the Wolfpack, as the runner scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Joseph Preziuso.
– NC State looked to counter in the bottom half, as Brad Debo drew a leadoff walk to start the frame.
– After Canisius brought in their closer to get the next two outs, freshman Terrell Tatum pinch-hit for the Pack and battled his way out of a 1-2 hole to draw a walk, putting the tying run on second and the go-ahead run on first.
– Unfortunately, the Griffs made the next play on a ground ball up the middle to end the game.
Game Notes
– The Wolfpack’s streak of nine runs in its last eight games ended in the contest, as the squad outscored opponents, 93-25, during the span.
– Wilson’s homer pushed NC State’s season total to 27, which leads the nation, as the Pack has hit at least one home run in 11 of 12 games this season.
– Wilson also extended his reached base safely streak to 27 games, dating back to last season.
On the Mound
– Freshman David Harrison started on the mound for NC State and pitched 3.2 innings before giving way to Nolan Clenney in the fourth.
– Clenney threw an 1.2 scoreless relief and handed the ball to lefty Kent Klyman.
– Klyman tossed two hitless innings prior to Joe O’Donnell, who allowed a run and was charged with the loss.
– Michael Bienlien finished the game on the hill, pitching 2/3 of an inning.
Up Next
NC State will conclude its season-opening home stand against UNCW Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Doak Field.
#21 NC State convincingly defeated Ball State 10-2 in the series opener in Raleigh this evening.
Senior Sam Highfill pitched a Quality Start against the Cardinals, giving up 2 earned runs in 6 innings, while striking out 6. The Quality Start was Highfill’s 3rd of the season, and his record on the year is now 4-1.
Freshman Ryan Marohn was brilliant in relief, pitching 3 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 hit, while striking out 3. Marohn picked up his 1st Save of his collegiate career.
Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz was the Wolfpack’s Offensive MVP, going 2 for 4, with a Grand Slam.
17 homers, 55 RBI and another GRAND SLAM for A-Mak 💣#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/fTBCrh5afv
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 26, 2024
Makarewica now has 17 Home Runs and 55 RBI’s.
Sophomore Right Fielder Josh Hogue, Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart, Junior Left Fielder Chase Nixon, Freshman 2nd Baseman Luke Nixon and Sophomore Matt Heavner all had an RBI apiece.
Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth was the only player besides A-Mak to have multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with a Double.
Game 2 is tomorrow at 3pm.
#21 NC State is coming off of a series victory over UNC this past weekend, and a loss to #7 ECU on the road last night. Where does NC State project to land in the 2024 NCAA Tournament?
The Wolfpack have already seen the Pirates twice this season, but according to D1Baseball and Baseball America, they might not be done playing ECU. Both of them project NC State to be a #2 seed in the Greenville Regional, with D1Baseball projecting the Pirates as the #6 seed and Baseball America projecting them as the #8 seed.
NC State has plenty of baseball left to play, with series against UVA (#14), FSU (#10) and Wake Forest (#8). If the Wolfpack can handle business in 2 of those 3 series, you could make an argument for NC State hosting their own regional.
D1Baseball
Baseball America
#21 NC State lost to #7 ECU 6-10 on the road this evening in a midweek game. As a result, the Pirates have won both games against the Wolfpack in 2024.
When you record 10 hits and score 6 runs, you would hope that’s enough offense to win a baseball game.
Unfortunately the Wolfpack pitching staff was unable to contain the bats of the Pirates, allowing ECU to put 15 hits and 10 runs in the Box Score.
Kudos to Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz for making a STATEment in his return to Clark-LeClair Stadium. A-Mak transferred to NC State from ECU this offseason. This evening Makarewicz was 2-4 with 1 RBI, 2 Runs, and 1 Walk.
A-MAK 👏 ON 👏 THE 👏 ATTACK 👏#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/7Lps43hXow
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 23, 2024
A-Mak’s Home Run was a part of back-to-back-to-back Home Runs in the Top of the 3rd for the Wolfpack, with Sophomore Right Fielder Josh Hogue and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart also hitting bombs.
Hogue Homer 💪#Pack9 | @JoshHogue5 pic.twitter.com/CMV3rCQu4B
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 23, 2024
‘Zart completes the trifecta 🤌 pic.twitter.com/gipiWvbcFb
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 23, 2024
NC State will look to flush this loss, and get ready for a 3-game series at home this weekend against Ball State.
Earlier this season on April 2nd, #21 NC State (22-15) lost to #7 ECU (31-8) 4-12 in Raleigh. This evening the Wolfpack will look to get revenge against the Pirates in a game in Greenville at 6pm.
Overall, NC State holds a 71-43 advantage over East Carolina in the series, which dates back to 1957.
Last year, the Wolfpack and the Pirates split their 2-game series, ironically, losing at home, and winning in Greenville.
Replicating last years results will be no small task. The Pirates are ranked 7th in the land, and boast a 3-1 record against ranked opponents this season. One of those wins was against NC State, when the Wolfpack was ranked 19th. The other two ranked wins were at UNC when they were ranked 15th.
NC State has done well against ranked opponents, going 7-4 against teams in the Top-25, and 4-2 against teams in the Top-10.
The Pirates’ pitching staff leads the AAC and is in the Top-10 nationally in ERA (3.61), WHIP (1.18), hits allowed per nine innings (6.99) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.04).
ECU’s home field advantage is a real thing, going 20-2 at home thus far this season.
Senior Carter Cunningham leads the Pirates in nearly every offensive category, batting .396 with 9 Home Runs. He’s not alone though. Five of ECU’s regular starters have batting averages over .300.
It will be a homecoming for Senior Wolfpack Third Baseman Alec Makarewicz, who transferred to NC State from ECU this offseason. A-Mak is having the best season of his career, hitting 15 Home Runs while batting .349. It would be fitting for Makarewicz to win at his old stomping grounds.