#6 NC State to host George Mason this afternoon

GEORGE MASON – NC STATE
Date: Tuesday, March 27
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

STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday – RHP Jared DiCesare (GMU) vs. RHP Reid Johnston (NCSU)

RALEIGH, N.C. – After clinching its third ACC series over the weekend, the sixth-ranked NC State baseball team will host the George Mason Patriots in a midweek matchup Tuesday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

The game 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.

NC State enters Tuesday’s tilt with a 20-4 overall record, while George Mason is 10-11.

Freshman Reid Johnston will make his second career start on the mound and his 10th appearance of the season. The Enfield, N.C., native is 2-0 on the year with four saves to go along with a 1.80 ERA.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting GoPack.com/Pack9Tickets.

The Series
The Wolfpack and Patriots have met 28 times in the history of the programs with NC State leading the all-time series, 24-4.

Last Time Versus George Mason
George Mason visited Doak Field at Dail Park last season when the Pack earned a 7-3 win. Joe Dunand had the big hit for the Wolfpack in that contest, as he hit a grand slam in the bottom of the first and NCSU never trailed after the five-run first inning.

Scouting George Mason
George Mason heads to Raleigh with some momentum after sweeping its first conference series against St. Bonaventure at home last weekend. The Patriots picked up a pair of shutout wins in the series with a 4-0 victory in game one and a 6-0 win in their most recent outing on Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots own a team batting average of .269, headlined by sophomore Logan Driscoll with a .458 batting average and a team-best 38 hits. Both of those numbers also lead the Atlantic 10 Conference and his batting average is seventh in the nation. George Mason averages 5.52 runs per game.

On the mound, Patriots pitchers have compiled a 6.09 ERA and Tuesday starter Jared DiCesare is 2-3 on the year with a 9.31 ERA in five appearances with three starts.

Wolfpack in the National, ACC Rankings
Batting Average – .323 (1st in ACC, 6th in NCAA)
Hits – 268 (1st in ACC, 9th in NCAA)
Home Runs – 42 (1st in ACC, 4th in NCAA)
Home Runs Per Game – 1.75 (1st in ACC, 4th in NCAA)
Runs – 188 (1st in ACC, 16th in NCAA)
On-base Percentage – .416 (1st in ACC, 11th in NCAA)
Slugging Percentage – .529 (1st in ACC, 6th in NCAA)

Walks Plus Hits Per Inning Pitched (WHIP) – 1.22 (1st in ACC, 24th in NCAA)
Earned Run Average (ERA) – 3.04 (2nd in ACC, 28th in NCAA)
Hits Allowed Per 9 Innings – 7.29 (2nd in ACC, 20th in NCAA)

39 And Counting for Wilson
Sophomore Will Wilson has reached base safely in 39 consecutive games dating back to the first game of the Delaware series last season. During the stretch, the shortstop has compiled a .463 on-base percentage and a batting average of .358.

Kinneman Doing What Kinneman Does
NC State’s Brett Kinneman continues to be on fire at the plate for the Wolfpack, as he hit his 12th home run of the season on Sunday, which ties for the NCAA lead. California’s Andrew Vaughn and CSUN’s Albee Weiss also have 12 on the year.

The York, Pa., native has also collected 34 RBIs this season to tie for second nationally.

Big Innings
NC State has scored four or more runs in an inning 14 times this season with the most recent occurrence in the eighth inning of Sunday’s series finale against Georgia Tech with five runs in that frame. The Wolfpack’s season high for runs in an inning is eight, accomplished in the fourth inning of the Campbell game on March 3 and the seventh inning of the Air Force game on Feb. 26.

McLain on a 12-game Hitting Streak
Senior Josh McLain has made the most of his senior season, as the Wolfpack’s center fielder is on a 12-game hitting streak. He opened the season on an 11-game hitting streak, so McLain has tallied a hit in 23 of NC State’s 24 games.

The lone game that he was held without a hit was against Canisius. He leads the team with 39 hits this season, which is second in the ACC.

Third Multi-Homer Game for Edwards
Wolfpack junior Evan Edwards has tallied three multi-homer games this season, which is tied for the most in the NCAA. In Sunday’s game against Georgia Tech, the NC State first baseman hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and led off the eighth inning with a solo shot to right field.

Edwards now has eight for the season, which is tied for the second most in the ACC. He also recorded multi-homer games against Bowling Green and Campbell on March 3.

The More, The Merrier
NC State is a perfect 18-0 on the year when recording more hits than its opponent.