No. 2 NC State Baseball Hosts Sixth-Ranked UNC-Chapel Hill This Weekend

UNC-CHAPEL HILL – NC STATE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday – Sunday, April 27-29
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Site: Doak Field at Dail Park
Times: 6:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) | 1 P.M. (Sun.)
Radio: WKNC 88.1 FM
Live Video: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: SideArm Live Stats

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Cooper Criswell (UNC-CH) vs. RHP Reid Johnston (NCSU)
Saturday: RHP Austin Bergner (UNC-CH) vs. LHP Brian Brown (NCSU)
Sunday: RHP Tyler Baum (UNC-CH) vs. RHP Johnny Piedmonte (NCSU)

RALEIGH, N.C. – For the second consecutive weekend, the ACC’s Atlantic and Coastal Division leaders will square off, as the second-ranked NC State baseball team will host sixth-ranked UNC-Chapel Hill.

First pitch of Friday and Saturday’s games is slated for 6:30 p.m., while Sunday’s series finale will begin at 1 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park. All three games are SOLD OUT!

Each 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 the weekend with a 31-8 overall record, including a 15-6 mark in ACC play to lead the Atlantic Division while UNC-Chapel Hill makes the short commute with a 28-13 overall mark and an identical 15-6 ledger to pace the Coastal Division.

Last Time Out
The Wolfpack dropped its most recent outing, as the third-ranked Duke Blue Devils avoided the sweep with a win in the series finale last Sunday. NC State won Friday’s game, 9-2, and earned a 2-1 win on Saturday in a pitcher’s duel to clinch the series.

UNC earned an 8-2 win against Western Carolina in its last outing in non-conference action on Wednesday evening.

The Series
The Wolfpack and Tar Heels have met 298 times in the history of the programs, as UNC-Chapel Hill leads the series 164-133-1.

Last Time Versus UNC-Chapel Hill
NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill met last week in a non-conference battle in the ‘Duel at the DBAP’. The Wolfpack earned an 8-3 win in that contest, thanks in large part to home runs by freshman Patrick Bailey and junior Evan Edwards.

Last Time Versus UNC-Chapel Hill at Doak Field
The Wolfpack won the last home series against the Tar Heels, as NC State won game one and the series finale to clinch the series.

Scouting UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC-Chapel Hill has won six of its last eight games heading into the weekend and is ranked No. 6 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball Rankings. The Tar Heels have won their last four ACC series and are coming off a sweep against Georgia Tech.

UNC owns a team batting average of .285, which is the third best in the conference. Kyle Datres leads the Heels with a .355 batting average complemented by a team-high 59 hits.

On the mound, UNC’s pitchers have compiled a 3.58 earned run average (ERA) to rank fifth in the ACC.

Offensive Showdown
The ACC’s top scoring offenses meet this weekend, as NC State leads the conference and ranks 13th in the nation with 7.5 runs per game. UNC is second in the league with 7.2 runs per game to rank 25th in the ACC.

Around the State
Starting with last week’s non-conference matchup against UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State’s schedule features eight consecutive games versus teams from the state of North Carolina.

The Wolfpack is 10-1 against teams from the state of North Carolina this season.

10 And Counting
The Wolfpack owns the ACC’s longest active series-win streak, as NC State has won 10 consecutive conference series. NC State has won each of its weekend matchups dating back to the Virginia Tech series from last season.

Johnston Shines in First ACC Start
Freshman Reid Johnston started on the mound for the Wolfpack last Friday to make the first ACC start of his collegiate career and threw a gem to earn his sixth win of the season.

The Enfield, N.C., native went a career-long 6.2 innings and limited the third-ranked Duke Blue Devils to just four hits and struck out three batters. He will start on Friday for the second consecutive week for NC State.

Shutting It Down
NC State is a perfect 25-0 this season when leading after the seventh inning and the record increases to 30-0 when leading after the eighth inning. The Wolfpack’s 16 saves lead the ACC in that category.

Eight in A Row
Josh McLain and Will Wilson each extended their hitting streaks to eight games with a hit in Sunday’s game at Duke. McLain owns a .500 batting average in his last eight games with 20 hits.

Wilson has 11 hits, including three home runs to compile a .306 batting average during that stretch.

Road Warriors
NC State owns the ACC’s best road record with a 9-3 mark in conference games. No other team in the conference has more than seven road wins in league action.

Wolfpack in the National, ACC Rankings
Team
Batting Average – .303 (1st in ACC, 16th in NCAA)
Hits – 408 (2nd in ACC, 33rd in NCAA)
Home Runs – 56 (2nd in ACC, 7th in NCAA)
Home Runs Per Game – 1.44 (2nd in ACC, 6th in NCAA)
On-base Percentage – .398 (1st in ACC, 20th in NCAA)
Slugging Percentage – .480 (1st in ACC, 9th in NCAA)
Runs – 291 (2nd in ACC, 23rd in NCAA)
Scoring – 7.5 (1st in ACC, 13th in NCAA)

Walks Plus Hits Per Inning Pitched (WHIP) – 1.28 (3rd in ACC, 34th in NCAA)
Earned Run Average – 3.52 (4th in ACC, 37th in NCAA)
Hits Allowed Per 9 Innings – 7.84 (3rd in ACC, 35th in NCAA)

Individual
Brian Brown
ERA – 0.99 (1st in ACC, 3rd in NCAA)

Brett Kinneman
Home Runs – 13 (T1st in ACC, T13th in NCAA)
RBI – 45 (T2nd in ACC, 28th in NCAA)

Josh McLain
Hits – 67 (1st in ACC, 8th in NCAA)
Hits Per Game – 1.72 (1st in ACC, 6th in NCAA)

Joe O’Donnell
Saves – 8 (2nd in ACC, 27th in NCAA)