NC State Baseball
NC State shuts out Virginia Tech 1-0 to clinch series
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The sixth-ranked NC State baseball team earned a 1-0 victory Saturday afternoon at English Field at Union Park to clinch the road series against the Virginia Tech Hokies.
The Wolfpack has now won all four of its ACC series this season and has won seven consecutive conference series, the longest streak of any team in the league. NC State and Duke are the only two teams in the ACC that have not lost a conference series in 2018.
NC State moves to 23-5 on the year and 9-3 in ACC play, while Virginia Tech falls to 11-15 and 5-7 in conference action. Freshman Reid Johnston earned the win with an inning of relief to remain unbeaten and improve to 3-0, while redshirt senior Joe O’Donnell shut the door to earn his sixth save.
Key Plays in the Game
– With runners on first and third in the top of the eighth, junior Evan Edwards stepped to the plate with two outs and singled to right field past the first baseman to drive in the game-winning run.
– Stephen Pitarra was hit-by-pitch to start the frame and Terrell Tatum came in to pinch-run to score on Edwards’ RBI single.
– Virginia Tech threatened in the fifth and eighth, but NC State turned inning-ending double plays to escape a pair of jams.
Quick Hits
– NC State had a runner reach base in all nine innings, as Virginia Tech pitchers did not have a perfect inning.
– Virginia Tech looked to strike early in the contest, as the Hokies had a runner on third with two outs in the first, but NC State starter Brian Brown forced the next batter to fly out to center field.
– VT loaded the bases with one down in the fifth, but Brown induced a ground ball to Will Wilson at shortstop and he started the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
– Brock Deatherage tried to spark a two-out rally for the Wolfpack in the seventh, as he beat the shift with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a passed ball. Unfortunately, a swinging strikeout followed to end the threat.
– After Pitarra was hit-by-pitch in the eighth, Brett Kinneman drew a walk to put runners at first and second with one out.
– Wilson hit a sacrifice fly to center field, which allowed Tatum to tag and move over to third base before scoring on Edwards’ RBI single.
– Wolfpack reliever Kent Klyman retired the first two batters of the ninth and gave way to O’Donnell after a double.
– The Wilmington, N.C., native came up big for the Pack as he struck out the batter swinging on a 3-2 pitch to seal the win for NC State.
Inside the Box Score
– Deatherage was the only player in the contest to tally more than one hit, as he turned in a 2-for-4 outing at the plate.
– Edwards, J.T. Jarrett, Josh McLain, Steven Oakley and Wilson had one hit apiece in the contest.
– Oakley earned his first career start, as he got the nod at designated hitter.
On the Mound
– Brown delivered another strong performance for NC State on the mound, as he pitched six shutout innings and allowed four hits, all singles, while striking out four batters.
– Johnston relieved him and threw an inning to earn the win.
– Klyman took over to start the eighth and pitched 1.2 innings, yielding just one hit.
– O’Donnell retired the only batter he faced to record his 13th career save.
On Deck
NC State returns to action next weekend when the squad travels to Louisville. Game one of the series is set for 6 p.m. Friday, April 6, at Jim Patterson Stadium.
NC State just defeated #11 UNC 9-8 via a walk-off Home Run from Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth in the Bottom of the 9th inning.
The Wolfpack have 6 walk-off wins in 2024, which leads the nation.
In a game in which there was a combined 8 Home Runs between both teams, it was the last one that mattered most.
UNC kicked things off in the Top of the 1st inning with a Home Run from Casey Cook. The Wolfpack would respond in the Bottom of the 1st with a 2-RBI Single from Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart.
Two-out damage from ‘Zart 💥 pic.twitter.com/cSn7vKoZBh
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 18, 2024
Cook would hit another Home Run in the Top of the 3rd, and Vance Honeycutt would also hit a 2-Run Home Run, giving the Tar Heels a 4-2 lead.
Once again, the Wolfpack responded in the bottom frame. Senior Third Baseman Alec Makarewicz hit his 15th Home Run of the season.
Ideal start to the home half of the third 💣#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/BrLSstM3D2
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
Junior Outfielder Chase Nixon had an RBI Single, and his Freshman brother Luke (2B) brought in the third run of the inning on a fielders choice, giving the Wolfpack a 5-4 lead.
Tie game! C-Nix delivers 😤 pic.twitter.com/aafYlvOhUh
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
The 4th inning was the only inning of the contest in which no runs were scored.
UNC’s Park Harber tied the game in the Top of the 5th with a solo shot.
Cozart was the Wolfpack’s MVP, giving his team a 3-run cushion in the bottom of the 6th inning with a 3-run Home Run. He had 5 RBI’s this evening.
TO THE MOON 📈🚀 pic.twitter.com/8g8pPUFJAN
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
The cushion wasn’t enough, with the Tar Heels scoring 3 runs over the next two innings. Alberto Osuna hit a solo shot, Alex Madera had an RBI Single, and Harber hit a sac fly.
With the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, with one out, Brandon Butterworth crushed the ball over the left field fence, snapping a 5-game losing streak against UNC.
CALLED. GAME.#Pack9 | @SlippinOnButter pic.twitter.com/6B15Jxkndr
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
Wolfpack Starter Sam Highfill lasted 3.1 innings, giving up 4 runs, while striking out 4. His ERA on the year is 5.16.
It was Sophomore Shane Van Dam that brought stability to the mound, pitching 3.2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs, while striking out 5. On the year, Van Dam’s ERA is 2.90.
Sophomore Derrick Smith came in to close things out, and gave up 1 run on 1 hit in 2 innings, striking out 2. Smith picked up the Win, and is 3-0 on the year.
Game 2 of the series is tomorrow night at 6pm at Doak Field. The Wolfpack will look to secure their first series victory over their rival since 2021, and their first one at home since 2016.
NC State and #11 UNC will kickoff a 3-game series in Raleigh tonight, but before the two rivals hit the diamond, here’s a Bracketology report for the Wolfpack before the first pitch.
D1Baseball currently projects that NC State will be the #2 seed in Greenville Region, hosted by #9 seed East Carolina. Back on April 2nd, the Wolfpack lost 4-12 to the Pirates at the Doak.
Baseball America projects NC State will be a #2 seed in the Knoxville Region, hosted by #6 seed Tennessee.
The Wolfpack are currently 20-14 overall, ranking 33rd in the RPI.