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NC State’s Brown Tabbed Semifinalist for USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award

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DURHAM, N.C. – After earning ACC Pitcher of the Year honors, NC State baseball’s Brian Brown has also been named one of 25 semifinalists for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, announced on Monday afternoon by the organization.

Presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the top amateur player in college baseball and will be presented on June 28 in Los Angeles.

Brown has turned in one of the nation’s best seasons, as he has recorded a 6-1 record on the mound to go along with a 2.37 earned run average (ERA), which leads the ACC and ranks among the top pitchers nationally.

He threw the first complete game of his career earlier this season in game one of a doubleheader against Notre Dame, striking out eight batters and did not allow an extra-base hit in the contest. Brown struck out a season-high 10 batters against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The Glenmoore, Pa., native has started 14 games on the mound this season to lead all active ACC pitchers in career starts and tie for national lead with 59, one shy of tying the program record.

Brown has gone at least five innings in every start this season and NC State has won 12 of the 14 games he has started. The Wolfpack standout has not allowed an earned run in six of his starts and has not allowed an extra-base hit in eight starts this season.

Earlier on Monday, Brown became just the second player in NC State history to claim ACC Pitcher of the Year honors. He was named to the Midseason Watch List for the Golden Spikes Award, as well as being tabbed a Midseason All-American by D1Baseball and Perfect Game.

The winner of the 41st Golden Spikes Award will be named on Thursday, June 28, at a presentation in Los Angeles. The finalists and their families will be honored at the Rod Dedeaux Foundation Award Dinner that evening at Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles.

USA Baseball has partnered with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation to host the Golden Spikes Award since 2013. The Foundation was formed to honor legendary USC and USA Baseball Olympic team coach, Rod Dedeaux, and supports youth baseball and softball programs in underserved communities throughout Southern California.

A complete list of the 25 Golden Spikes Award semifinalists is as follows:

Name, Class, Position, School, Conference
Joey Bart; Jr.; C; Georgia Tech; ACC
Alec Bohm; Jr.; IF; Wichita State; American Athletic
Kyle Brnovich; So.; RHP; Elon; Colonial Athletic
Brian Brown; Sr.; LHP; NC State; ACC
Kody Clemens; Jr.; IF; Texas; Big 12
Frank German; Jr.; RHP; North Florida; Atlantic Sun
Logan Gilbert; Jr.; RHP; Stetson; Atlantic Sun
Devlin Granberg; Sr.; IF/OF; Dallas Baptist; Missouri Valley
Luke Heyer; Sr.; IF/OF; Kentucky; SEC
Jonathan India; Jr.; IF; Florida; SEC
Josh Jung; So.; IF/RHP; Texas Tech; Big 12
Trevor Larnach; Jr.; OF; Oregon State; Pac-12
Nick Madrigal; Jr.; IF; Oregon State; Pac-12
Casey Mize; Jr.; RHP; Auburn; SEC
Joey Murray; Jr.; RHP; Kent State; Mid-American
John Rooney; Jr.; LHP; Hofstra; Colonial Athletic
Nick Sandlin; Jr.; RHP; Southern Miss; Conference USA
Zack Shannon; Sr.; RHP/IF; Delta State; Gulf South
Scott Shreiber; Sr.; OF; Nebraska; Big Ten
Brady Singer; Jr.; RHP; Florida; SEC
Bren Spillane; Jr.; IF/OF; Illinois; Big Ten
Kevin Strohschein; Jr.; OF; Tennessee Tech; Ohio Valley
Spencer Torkelson; Fr.; IF; Arizona State; Pac-12
Andrew Vaughn; So.; IF; California; Pac-12
Steele Walker; Jr.; OF; Oklahoma; Big 12

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NC State Baseball

#13 NC State is Swept by Georgia Tech on the Road

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It was a terrible week for 13th ranked NC State Baseball team. The Wolfpack lost to UNCG 3-18 in a midweek game, and were then swept by Georgia Tech on the road this weekend.

Pitching was major issue for the Pack in all 4 losses, giving up a total of 49 runs, averaging 12.25 per loss.

(Recaps of the UNCG Loss and the first loss in the GT Series)

In Saturday’s loss, Senior Logan Whitaker was not the issue, giving up 3 earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched, while striking out 7 (1 walk). He now holds a 2-1 record with a 4.50 ERA.

With the Pack winning 7-5 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, Freshman Jacob Dudan, who hadn’t given up a run in his first 8 appearances, gave up 4 runs (3 earned), which ultimately led to a Yellow Jackets 8-7 victory.

Also, the Wolfpack allowed Georgia Tech to score 2 unearned runs on Saturday, and ended up losing the game by 1.

Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington was the lone batter with multiple hits (2-4), and Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth and Freshman 2nd Baseman Luke Nixon both had 2 RBI’s each. Nixon hit the first home run of his career.

Saturday

Yesterday, NC State lost via mercy rule in the 7th inning, trailing the Yellow Jackets 5-15 in the bottom of the 7th.

After earning Preseason All-American honors by D1Baseball, Sophomore Dom Fritton continues to struggle mightily in 2024. Fritton gave up 6 runs (5 earned) in 2.2 innings pitched, walking 5. His ERA on the season is 8.24 in 5 starts. He wasn’t the only one to struggle though, with Freshman Jaxon Lucas giving up 4 runs (3 earned), Junior Garrett Payne giving up 2, and Sophomore Derrick Smith giving up 3.

Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III was the only Wolfpack batter with multiple hits (2-4), with one of them being a double, along with 2 walks.

Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart hit a double that knocked in 2 runs, and Freshman Catcher Alex Sosa hit his first collegiate home run, knocking in two as well.

Sunday

NC State is now 12-6 overall, with a 3-3 ACC record. They need to figure things out quickly, because they have a challenging midweek game against Coastal Carolina (17-3) at the Doak on Tuesday night at 6pm.

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NC State Baseball

#13 NC State Can’t Capitalize in Series Opener at Georgia Tech, Losing 5-8

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#13 NC State (12-4) lost their 2nd straight game today, losing the series opener at Georgia Tech (13-4) 5-8.

Senior Sam Highfill pitched excellent for 4.2 innings, but that final 0.1 was brutal. After recording 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th, Highfill gave up 2 home runs resulting in 3 runs, putting the Yellow Jackets up 4-2.

Instead of coming out of the game, Highlfill came back out in the bottom of the 6th, and walked the first batter he faced. He came out of the game after that, and former Wolfpack Shortstop Payton Green hit a 2-run home run in the next at bat.

In total, Highfill gave up 5 earned runs in 5 innings, and now has 1-1 record, with a 4.94 ERA.

NC State had the same amount of hits as Georgia Tech (8), but they left batter after batter on base. The Wolfpack left 10 players on base, compared to GT’s 4.

Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington led the team with 2 RBI’s, with a Home Run in the Top of the 3rd. He also scored 2 runs and walked twice.

Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart, Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III and Junior Chase Nixon all chipped in an RBI a piece.

Game 2 between the Wolfpack and the Yellow Jackets will be at 4pm tomorrow on ACCNX.

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NC State Baseball

#13 NC State Gets Blown Out by UNCG 18-3 in a Midweek Game

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#13 NC State (12-3) was blown out today by UNCG (9-7) 18-3 in a Midweek game at home.

The Wolfpack was held to 4 hits on the day, with Senior Right Fielder Noah Soles and Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewich both collecting 2 hits apiece. A-Mak picked up 2 more RBI’s.

The rest of the batters in the NC State lineup went hitless.

Two weeks ago, Freshman Cooper Consiglio picked up a Win in a midweek start against Queens, giving up 2 earned runs in 4 innings. Today, Consiglio gave up 8 runs (7 earned) in 2.1 innings.

NC State used 10 pitchers today, and 6 of them gave up runs.

The only pitchers that came out of the game unscathed were Freshman Ryan Marohn, Senior Hollis Fanning, Sophomore Shane Van Dam, and Freshman Jacob Dudan.

The Wolfpack will hit the road this weekend for a 3-game series at Georgia Tech (12-4).

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NC State Baseball Top-25 Rankings Update After Sweeping BC

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After sweeping Boston College in their ACC Series Opener this past weekend, NC State moved up in every poll this week. The highest ranking the Wolfpack received was 12th, by the NCBWA.

NCBWA – 12 (+3)

D1Baseball – 13 (+1)

USAToday Coaches Poll – 14 (+1)

Baseball America – 16 (+1)

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Perfect Game – 20th (-)

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