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#21 NC State Shuts Out Elon 5-0

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ELON, N.C. – In what appeared to be a pitcher’s duel and a low-scoring affair following five scoreless innings, the 21st-ranked NC State baseball team pushed across several runs late to earn a 5-0 shutout win at Elon Tuesday evening.

The Wolfpack plated the game’s first run in the sixth and then added four runs in its final two at-bats to come away with the shutout win. Four different pitchers combined for the shutout, as sophomore Evan Justice earned the win (1-0) with 2.1 innings of relief in his first appearance of the season.

Elon’s starter Jared Wetherbee was charged with the loss (0-1) and it was just the second of his career.

NC State moves to 4-0 on the year, handing Elon (3-1) its first loss of the season in the process. It was the Pack’s first road shutout since March 31, 2018, at Virginia Tech.

Avent’s Additions
“I’m awfully proud of our guys,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “They came over here in tough conditions, first game on the road and they were excited. This club likes to play and that’s a very, very good Elon team, maybe the best one I’ve seen in a long time.

“It was scoreless for the first five innings, but I felt like Elon had the advantage because they had us on the ropes, but we turned that situation into a 5-0 win. We made pitches and plays when we had to. I’m very proud of this ballclub.”

Quick Hits
– Elon threatened in the bottom of the third, as they loaded the bases with one out, but Baker Nelson entered the game and induced a foul out and a ground out to escape the jam.
– More impressively, the freshman battled out of a 3-0 hole to the first batter he faced to get the foul out and then made a great pitch to get the ground out to J.T. Jarrett at second base to end the inning.
– Will Wilson broke the scoreless tie with a solo homer in the sixth inning to give NC State a 1-0 lead, s the Wolfpack has scored first in every game this year.
– The junior drove the 1-2 pitch from Wetherbee over the left field wall for his second home run of the season. It was also the first homer that Wetherbee has allowed and just the second extra-base hit he has yielded in his career.
– NC State loaded the bases in the eighth and Evan Edwards made the Phoenix pay with a two-RBI double down the right field line.
– He later scored in the inning on a wild pitch to make it 4-0.
– Vojtech Mensik walked to start the ninth, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout from Terrell Tatum and scored on a wild pitch to extend NC State’s lead to 5-0.
– Mathieu Gauthier pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth to secure the win.

On the Mound
– Junior Michael Bienlien started on the mound and pitched 2.1 innings with three strikeouts before handing the ball to Nelson.
– Nelson threw the next 2.1 innings with only one hit allowed with a pair of strikeouts.
– Justice was also great out of the bullpen, fanning three batters and Gauthier threw the final two innings yielding just one hit.

On Deck
NC State will return to action this weekend at the Baseball at the Beach Tournament, hosted by Coastal Carolina. The Wolfpack will take on Kent State in its first game of the weekend Friday afternoon at TicketReturn.Com Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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NC State Baseball

NC State is Back in the Top-25 After Three Top-25 Wins Last Week

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After 3 Top-25 wins last week (1 over Coastal Carolina & 2 over Duke), NC State’s Baseball team is back in the Top-25 in 4 of the 5 polls. Last week was the only week that the Wolfpack hasn’t been ranked all season, after losing 1 game to UNCG, and losing all 3 at Georgia Tech.

USAToday Coaches Poll – #22

D1Baseball – #22

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Baseball America – #25

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NCBWA – #25

 

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NC State Baseball

NC State Loses Series Finale 2-13, but Wins Series vs. #9 Duke

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NC State lost the series finale 2-13 yesterday, but won the series against #9 Duke.

Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz was the sole source of offense, knocking in both runs on two solo Home Runs. A-Mak now has 10 Home Runs on the year. Makarewicw’s batting average is .359, and his OPS is 1.226.

Sophomore Dominic Fritton’s struggles continue, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) in 4 innings, striking out 5. His ERA on the season is 8.37, with a 1-2 record.

Fritton isn’t the only pitcher that struggled.

Senior Hollis Fanning gave up 5 runs in 2.1 innings in relief. His ERA in the year is 7.30.

Junior Carson Kelly gave up three runs in 0.2 innings pitched. His ERA is 27.00 in 2 appearances.

Despite losing in this way in the finale, NC State had a heck of a week, beating #13 Coastal Carolina in a midweek game, and taking 2 of 3 against #9 Duke.

The Wolfpack will look to get revenge tomorrow night at 6pm against UNCG. Two weeks ago, they lost to the Spartans 3-18 in a midweek game.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Secures Series Win Against #9 Duke With a 9-8 Walk-Off Victory Over #9 Duke

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After pulling off heroics in the 8th inning last night, NC State decided to make it even more exciting last night, shifting their heroics to the bottom of the 9th.

With #9 Duke leading 8-3 in the Bottom of the 9th inning, the Wolfpack would need a miracle, and sometimes you get exactly what you need.

Sometimes a miracle starts with a little bit of luck. With 1 out, Sophomore Josh Hogue grounded into a fielders choice, where as a result of an error, he ended up at 2nd, Senior Noah Outfielder Soles ended up at 3rd and Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth ended running across home plate.

Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington would then hit a 3-run Home Run, cutting Duke’s lead to 2.

With 2 outs left, Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III hit a 2-run walk-off bomb, giving NC State a 9-8 series clinching win over #9 Duke.

Senior Starting Pitcher Logan Whitaker wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible either. He gave up 4 earned runs in 4 innings pitched.

Junior Win Scott pitched in relief for the first time since February 28th, giving up 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings pitched.

Freshman Heath Andrews was up next, pitching for the first time since March 10th, giving up 2 earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched.

Sophomore Derrick Smith picked up his first Win of the season, pitching a scoreless 8th inning.

Pennington, Serrano III and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart all had 2 hits apiece.

Pennington had 2 Home Runs and 4 RBI’s, giving him 5 on the year.

Serranno III and Soles each had 2 RBI’s apiece, both coming off of Home Runs.

After falling out of the Top-25 on Monday, NC State has won 3 straight games against Top-15 opponents, and they will look to make that 4 straight tomorrow as the Wolfpack and Blue Devils close out the series at 1pm.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Wins Series Opener Against #9 Duke Behind a Solid Highfill Performance

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NC State is rebounding in a major way this week. After losing all 4 games last week (Midweek vs. UNCG & swept at GT), the Wolfpack defeated #13 Coastal Carolina in a midweek game, and defeated #9 Duke 4-3 in the series opener tonight at home.

The Wolfpack were carried by a solid outing by starter Sam Highfill, who gave up 3 runs over 7 innings, while striking out 8. Highfill is now 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA.

Freshman Jacob Dudan continues to impress, picking up the Save, throwing 2 scoreless innings. Dudan now has 3 Saves on the year, and is rocking a 2.70 ERA.

With the game tied 3-3, Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 7th, knocking in Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz.

The other 3 RBI’s weren’t exciting in nature, with Sophomore Left Fielder and Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington bringing in Runs on groundouts, and Freshman 2nd Baseman ushering in a Run with a Walk with the bases loaded.

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