RALEIGH, N.C. – Headlined by three home runs, including the first career homer and grand slam from junior Lawson McArthur, No. 21 NC State baseball powered past Bucknell, 12-8, Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep.

The Wolfpack scored seven runs in the seventh inning, which are the most in an inning since March 3, 2018 against Campbell. The win marked the first time that the Pack has swept a season-opening series since 2010 against LaSalle.

Junior Kent Klyman picked up the win (1-0) on the mound and redshirt sophomore Dalton Feeney came on in the ninth to secure the save. Bucknell’s Tyler Wincig was charged with the loss.

NC State moves to 3-0 on the weekend, while Bucknell falls to 0-3.

Avent’s Additions
“I’m just so proud of our guys,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “We’ve been very fortunate with the weather we’ve had this spring and today might have been the coldest and the field was wet, damp.

“The guys didn’t treat this game as an 11 o’clock game on a Sunday morning, I felt they were ready to play. It’s a good thing they were because Bucknell certainly was. I thought their starting pitcher was outstanding. A lot of teams would get down trailing 7-4 in the seventh inning, but I am really proud of this club battling back.”

On Lawson McArthur…
“I’m just really happy for him. He’s been behind some really good outfielders in Brock Deatherage, Josh McLain and Brett Kinneman. He got a big hit at a big time for us. It was great for him because he made a big-time play yesterday in right field. When your confidence is going well, then things seem to work out good for you.”

Quick Hits
– The Wolfpack pushed across four runs in the bottom of the second, as the squad scored first in all three games of the series.
– Terrell Tatum had an RBI single in the frame and Vojtech Mensik tripled to right field to bring in two more runs for the Pack.
– A single from Jonny Butler scored Mensik, as NC State grabbed a 4-0 lead.
– Bucknell answered with three runs in the third thanks to a pair of RBI singles from JohnPaul Bell and Jack Schuler.
– After both teams were held scoreless in the fourth through the sixth innings, the seventh inning saw 11 runs scored.
– The Bison took its first lead of the series with four runs in the top of the inning, but it was short-lived as the Wolfpack responded with seven runs in the bottom half.
– Evan Edwards sparked the rally with his second home run of the season, a solo shot over the right field wall.
– Brad Debo contributed an RBI single to narrow the margin to 7-6.
– Following a David Vazquez walk to load the bases, McArthur crushed a 2-2 pitch from Wincig over the right field fence for his first career round-tripper and grand slam.
– Edwards drove in his second run of the inning with a single up the middle to push NC State’s advantage to 11-7.
– Tyler McDonough also notched his first collegiate home run with a blast to right field in the eighth to make it 12-7.
– Bucknell got a run back in the ninth, but Feeney entered the game and induced a flyout to center field to end the game.

Quoting McArthur
“I was just having fun out there, keeping my attitude up, and staying involved in the game. Watching every other at-bat to see what they were throwing to righties and lefties. I had a feeling with the bases loaded that he was going to throw me some off-speed pitches, which he did early in the count. I got in to a good count and managed to snag a fastball up in the zone and took advantage of it.

“My eyes got huge as soon as I saw that fastball up in the zone because I knew I could do something good with it.”

Inside the Box Score
– NC State did not commit an error and finished the weekend without a miscue on defense.
– Mensik turned in a 3-for-5 outing at the plate with two RBI and two runs, while McDonough was 2-for-4 with three runs and an RBI.
– Edwards and Tatum also tallied multi-hit games.

On the Mound
– Nick Swiney started on the mound for the Wolfpack and pitched 2.2 innings before handing the ball to Reid Johnston.
– Johnston tossed three shutout innings and departed the game inline to earn the win before a rally from Bucknell.
– Andrew Blake made his NC State debut on the mound and Klyman took over for him, throwing 2.1 innings to pick up the win.

On Deck
NC State will hit the road for its next five games, starting with a midweek game at Elon Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Latham Park.

Box Score

(PhotoCredit: GoPack)