No. 5 NC State Continues Home Stand Against Campbell Wednesday

CAMPBELL – NC STATE
Date: Wednesday, May 2
Location: Doak Field at Dail Park
Time: 6 p.m.
Radio: WKNC 88.1 FM
Live Video: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: SideArm Live Stats

STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Wes Noble (CU) vs. RHP Mathieu Gauthier (NCSU)

*NC State ranked fifth in this week’s Perfect Game Poll*

RALEIGH, N.C. – The fifth-ranked NC State baseball team will host the Campbell Fighting Camels for the second time this season on Wednesday evening. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park.

The Camels also made the trip to Raleigh on March 3 when the Wolfpack earned a 21-4 victory and NC State traveled to Campbell on March 7 to record a 4-1 win. NCSU will look to complete the season sweep, as Wednesday’s contest will mark the first time the teams have met three times in a season since 2005.

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 Wednesday’s game with a 31-11 overall record, while Campbell is 23-18.

Last Time Out
In its last outing, NC State dropped a hard-fought 5-4 decision against UNC-Chapel Hill. The Wolfpack nearly pulled off a late comeback with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and the tying run on third, but NCSU was unable to score the run.

Campbell lost at UNCW, 14-4, in its most recent outing last Wednesday, as the squad was off last weekend due to final exams.

The Series
The Wolfpack leads the all-time series against the Camels, 50-15-1, thanks to a pair of wins against Campbell earlier this season.

Last Time Versus Campbell
Brock Deatherage scored three runs the last time the two teams met to lead NC State to a 4-1 win in Buies Creek. Freshman Evan Justice earned his second win of the season with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief and classmate Reid Johnston pitched the ninth to record his third save at the time.

Last Time Versus Campbell at Doak Field
NC State recorded a 21-4 win against Campbell the last time the teams met in Raleigh on March 3. The 21 runs still stand as the most runs scored by an ACC team this season.

The Wolfpack hit five home runs in that contest, highlighted by a pair of homers from Evan Edwards and Patrick Bailey’s first career grand slam.

Scouting Campbell
The Campbell Fighting Camels have a two-game lead in the Big South Conference with a 15-3 record on the year. Campbell has played nine games this season against top 100 RPI teams and Wednesday’s game will be the 10th.

Outfielder Matthew Barefoot leads the team at the plate with a .327 batting average to go along with a team-high 48 hits. Campbell shortstop Christian Jones has hit 12 home runs this season to rank second in the Big South and 25th in the NCAA.

The Camels own a team batting average of .253 and are averaging 5.93 runs per game. On the mound, Campbell leads the conference with a 4.50 ERA. Wednesday’s starter Wes Noble is 4-5 on the year with a 6.42 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched.

O’Donnell Tied for the Program Record in Career Appearances
Redshirt senior Joe O’Donnell made two appearances over the weekend to tie the NC State record for career appearances with 87 along with Joey Devine. The Wilmington, N.C., native is tied for the second-most career appearances among active players in the conference.

He was named to the NCBWA Midseason Watch List for the Stopper of the Year Award on Monday, as he is tied for the second-most saves in the ACC this season with eight. His 15 career saves ranks third in the Wolfpack record books.

Perfect in Midweeks
NC State owns a perfect 9-0 record in midweek games this season and looks to extend its unbeaten streak against the Camels.

13 in A Row for Edwards
Junior first baseman Evan Edwards has reached base safely in his last 13 games to compile a .468 on-base percentage. Additionally, the Greensboro, N.C., native has recorded a .340 batting average during that span with 16 hits, 15 RBI and 12 runs.

What a Month for McLain
NC State senior Josh McLain turned in a stellar month of April, as he led the team with a .391 batting average complemented by 25 hits in 14 games.

Hailing from Hiddenite, N.C., McLain hit two home runs in April and recorded a .516 slugging percentage along with a .435 on-base percentage.

His strong month allowed him to take over the ACC lead in hits with 69 on the year to rank 11th in the nation.

Wolfpack in the National, ACC Rankings
Team
Batting Average – .297 (1st in ACC, 23rd in NCAA)
Hits – 429 (3rd in ACC, 47th in NCAA)
Home Runs – 63 (2nd in ACC, 6th in NCAA)
Home Runs Per Game – 1.50 (2nd in ACC, 5th in NCAA)
On-base Percentage – .395 (1st in ACC, 26th in NCAA)
Slugging Percentage – .480 (1st in ACC, 10th in NCAA)
Runs – 306 (2nd in ACC, 23rd in NCAA)
Scoring – 7.3 (1st in ACC, 17th in NCAA)

Walks Plus Hits Per Inning Pitched (WHIP) – 1.29 (3rd in ACC, 40th in NCAA)
Earned Run Average – 3.62 (4th in ACC, 46th in NCAA)

Individual
Brian Brown
ERA – 1.41 (1st in ACC, 10th in NCAA)

Brett Kinneman
Home Runs – 13 (2nd in ACC, T20th in NCAA)
RBI – 46 (3rd in ACC, 37th in NCAA)
RBI Per Game – 1.10 (1st in ACC, 45th in NCAA)

Josh McLain
Hits – 69 (1st in ACC, 11th in NCAA)
Hits Per Game – 1.64 (1st in ACC, 10th in NCAA)

Joe O’Donnell
Saves – 8 (T3rd in ACC, 35th in NCAA)