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#21 NC State Beats Bucknell 14-2, Clinches Opening Series

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5 years ago

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RALEIGH, N.C. – The 21st-ranked NC State baseball team scored in seven of its eight plate appearances en route to a 14-2 victory against Bucknell Saturday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park to clinch the series.

The Wolfpack has now won 13 consecutive non-conference series dating back to the 2011 season.

Junior Alec Barger picked up the win (1-0) with three shutout innings of relief in his Wolfpack debut, after transferring into the program from Polk State Community College. Bucknell starter Jack Grabek was charged with the loss (0-1), allowing seven earned runs in 3.1 innings.

NC State moves to 2-0 on the year, while Bucknell falls to 0-2.

Avent’s Additions
“I’m really proud of our players today,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “They didn’t know what time we were going to play and were sitting around, but I thought we came out ready to play.

“We really played well today and came out ready to play, which is a testament to our guys. I’m really proud of the way they handled the situation. We only walked two guys today, we didn’t walk anybody yesterday, and didn’t make any errors yesterday and none today, which is impressive on a day like today.”

Quick Hits
– Jonny Butler ignited the Wolfpack offense with a leadoff triple on the first pitch from Bucknell’s Grabek to deep right center.
– Will Wilson followed with a home run to right field, his first of the season and 24th of his career, as NC State grabbed a 2-0 lead.
– In the second inning, Butler doubled to bring in a pair of runs and push the Wolfpack advantage to 4-0.
– The Pack capitalized on three errors by the Bison in the third to grab a 6-0 lead.
– Bucknell pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to trim the margin, but NC State answered in the bottom half of the frame.
– Patrick Bailey ripped a two-RBI triple to right field and later scored on a single from Evan Edwards to make it 9-2.
– Wilson drove in his third run of the day in the fifth and Vojtech Mensik collected the first two RBI of his Wolfpack career in the sixth on a single to left field, stretching the lead to 12-2.
– Tyler McDonough lined a single to center field to score Terrell Tatum from second base and an error by the Bison allowed the Wolfpack’s 14th run of the day to score in the bottom of the seventh.

Inside the Box Score
– NC State scored in each of the first seven innings.
– Five different players recorded a multi-hit game for the Wolfpack in a 12-hit outing.
– Wilson was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Butler was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs.
– Mensik turned in a 2-for-4 showing with two RBI and scored twice.
– McDonough and Tatum were both 2-for-3 with a run scored and the former added an RBI.
– Bailey and Edwards each had one hit in the contest.

On the Mound
– Sophomore transfer Canaan Silver started on the mound for the Wolfpack and pitched four innings, yielding two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts.
– Barger took over for him and threw three shutout innings to pick up his first win in an NC State uniform.
– Redshirt freshman Cameron Cotter made his collegiate debut with a pair of shutout, hitless innings.
– Wolfpack pitchers threw just 113 pitches in the contest, 75 of which were strikes, a 66.4 percentage strike rate.

On Deck
In an effort to avoid potential inclement weather, Sunday’s series finale has been moved up to an 11 a.m. first pitch at Doak Field at Dail Park.

Box Score

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NC State Baseball

NC State Finds Their Way Back Into the Top-25 in 1 Poll After Series Win at Clemson

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17 hours ago

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April 15, 2024

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NC State won 2 of their 4 games last week, winning 2 out of 3 against Clemson on the road this past weekend, and losing to UNCW on the road in a midweek game. Prior to the 2 victories against the Tigers, the Wolfpack had lost 5 straight games, suffering a sweep at Louisville the weekend before.

As a result of NC State’s big series victory at Clemson, the Wolfpack are back in Baseball America’s Top-25.

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NC State didn’t manage to crack the Top-25 for D1Baseball, Perfect Game or the USAToday Coaches Poll. The Wolfpack currently rank 31st in the Coaches Poll.

The NCBWA Poll hasn’t been released yet.

NC State will host Campbell tomorrow night at 6pm, which will be followed up by a series at the Doak this weekend against rival #11 UNC.

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NC State Baseball

Clemson Shuts Out NC State 7-0, but the Wolfpack Win the Series

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1 day ago

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April 14, 2024

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NC State didn’t pull of the sweep, falling to #2 Clemson 0-7 on the road this afternoon. Despite the loss, the Wolfpack did take 2 of 3 on the road against the team that entered the weekend ranked #1 in the RPI.

Freshman Cooper Consiglio got the start for the Pack today, and it’s a shame he was tagged with the Loss, because he pitched the first Quality Start of his career, giving up 2 earned runs in 6 innings pitched, striking out 3.

The bullpen didn’t help Consiglio today, with Freshman Heath Andrews surrendering 3 earned runs in 0.1 innings, while Sophomore Andrew Shaffner gave up 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings.

The Tigers limited NC State to only 2 hits, and they were singles by Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington and Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth.

The Wolfpack are now 20-13 overall, and 10-8 in conference play heading into a midweek game against Campbell at home on Tuesday night at 6pm. NC State currently ranks 3rd in the Atlantic Division.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Shuts Out #2 Clemson 4-0, Clinching the Series Against the Tigers!

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2 days ago

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April 13, 2024

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NC State (20-12) shut out Clemson (28-6) 4-0 this evening, clinching the series against the #2 team in the land on the road.

We’ve been waiting all year for Sophomore Dominic Fritton to return to form, and he picked a good time to do so, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out 6. The 5.2 innings is his highest of the season, and it’s the first time all season he has pitched, and the other team has scored 0 runs.

Fritton was followed by Freshman Jacob Dudan and Sophomore Derrick Smith, who kept the shutout alive. Dudan allowed 2 hits and 3 walks, but didn’t allow a run in 1.1 innings, and Smith didn’t allow a hit (1 walk) in 2 innings.

Pitching hasn’t been NC State’s strong suit in 2024, but it was tonight, against Sophomore Ethan Darden, who pitched a gem himself, giving up 1 earned run (3 unearned runs) in 9 innings, while striking out 5 (no walks).

Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s and a Run.

The Wolfpack and the Tigers will close out the series tomorrow at 1pm.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Picks up a Huge 11-8 Win Against #2 Clemson on the Road in the Series Opener

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3 days ago

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April 12, 2024

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NC State picked up a desperately needed win against #2 Clemson tonight, defeating the Tigers 11-8 on the road.

Senior Sam Highfill was back on the mound this Friday, but Mayor struggled, giving up 6 runs in 3.1 innings. Thankfully, Sophomore Shane Van Dam came in and quieted Clemson, giving up 1 earned run (2 runs) in 4.2 innings, striking out 8 batters, which is a new career high.

Sophomore Right Fielder Josh Hogue put the Pack on the board in the Top of the 1st with a solo Home Run.

Clemson would then go up 2-1 in the Bottom of the 1st with a 2-run Home Run.

NC State would regain the lead again in the Top of the 4th, putting 4 runs on the board. Junior Jacob Cozart grounded out to 2nd, but it was good enough to drive in Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington. Then Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III drove in two with a Double, and then Redshirt Freshman Drew Lanphere drove him in with a Single.

The Tigers would answer with 4 runs of their own in the Bottom of the 4th.

In the Top of the 5th, the Wolfpack caught a break. With 2 outs, Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth reached 1st on a throwing error, which allowed Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz and Hogue to come home. Serrano III would then take advantage of the opportunity, driving in 2 more with a Single.

The Tigers would make it a 1-run game in the Bottom of the 5th, scoring 2.

The Wolfpack would add a run in the 8th via an RBI Single from A-Mak, and another one in the 9th from Freshman 2nd Baseman Luke Nixon to make it a 3-run cushion.

Serrano III was the MVP at the plate for NC State today, going 3 for 4 with 4 RBI’s and 2 Runs.

Van Dam was the MVP on the mound. He is now 4-0 on the year, with a 2.63 ERA. Stud.

NC State (19-12) and Clemson (28-5) will take to the field tomorrow at 8pm.

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