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#10 NC State Sweeps Doubleheader to Clinch Series Against Minnesota

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5 years ago

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RALEIGH, N.C. – The 10th-ranked NC State baseball team swept a doubleheader against Minnesota Saturday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park to earn its 14th consecutive non-conference series win. The Wolfpack recorded a 3-2 win in game one and tallied an 8-4 victory in the second game.

NC State moves to 10-0 on the year and has not lost a non-conference three-game series since 2011, a span of 14 consecutive series wins. Minnesota, the Big Ten Conference preseason favorite, has played a very challenging schedule this season and falls to 2-7.

The Pack is off to its best start since 2004 when NCSU started the season 11-0. NC State is one of just six unbeaten teams in the NCAA.

Avent’s Additions

“I thought we played really well,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “Playing a doubleheader is difficult for both teams, especially this early in the year in this weather. I thought our guys did an unbelievable job.

“We beat one heckuva ballclub today. That’s a team that will compete for the Big Ten Championship. They made every play, battled and they’re coached by one of the most respected guys in our game, John Anderson. He’s done it for a long time and does it right and he has an outstanding team.”

Game One Quick Hits

– Following three scoreless innings, NC State struck first in the contest with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

– Vojtech Mensik led off with an infield single and stole second to get into scoring position.

– Brad Debo followed with a double to left field to plate the game’s first run, as Mensik scored from second.

– J.T. Jarrett traded places with him, doubling off the wall in left field to bring in Debo and make it 2-0.

 – Wolfpack leadoff man Jonny Butler singled up the middle to push the NC State advantage to 3-0, scoring Jarrett on the play.

– Minnesota got a run back in the sixth thanks to an RBI double by Jack Wassel, but Kent Klyman entered the game to pitch for the Pack and helped get the squad out of the inning.

– A solo homer from Cole McDevitt trimmed the Wolfpack lead to one, 3-2, in the top of the seventh.

– The Golden Gophers looked to rally in the eighth, as they loaded the bases with one out, but Dalton Feeney got a ground ball to Will Wilson at shortstop and he started the inning-ending double play to escape the jam.

Inside the Box Score

– Junior Jason Parker started on the mound for the Pack and threw 5.1 innings to earn his second win of the year. He struck out four batters and only walked one.

– Feeney nailed down his second save of the season, throwing 2.1 shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts.

– Debo led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 2-for-3 outing, highlighted by an RBI and a run.

– Devonte Brown, Butler, Evan Edwards, Jarrett and Mensik each had one hit.

Game Two Quick Hits

– The Gophers scored in their first at-bat of game two to take an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double from McDevitt.

– NC State countered with a big inning in the bottom half of the first and never trailed again en route to the victory to clinch the series.

– Butler got things started with a leadoff single before walks to Edwards and Patrick Bailey loaded the bases.

– Freshman Tyler McDonough drove in a pair of runs on a single to center field, scoring Butler and Edwards.

– A single from Terrell Tatum loaded the bases once again before Mensik stepped to the plate and clubbed a grand slam on his first career home run.

– The freshman from the Czech Republic drove the 3-2 fastball over the left field wall to put the Pack on top, 6-1, and chase Minnesota starting pitcher Sam Thoresen after just a third of an inning.

– McDevitt hit a solo homer in the top of the fourth, but NC State’s Debo matched him with a solo shot in the bottom of the frame to give the Wolfpack a five-run advantage again at 7-2.

– A sacrifice fly from Mensik in the eighth gave the freshman a career-high five RBI in the game, as McDonough scored to push the lead to 8-2.

– Minnesota got a few runs back in the ninth, but Andrew Blake rebounded to strike out the next batter to end the game.

Inside the Box Score

– Seven of the nine starters in NC State’s lineup recorded at least one hit.

– McDonough led the way with two hits in the contest to go along with two RBI and two runs.

– Bailey, Butler, Edwards and McDonough have all reached base safely in every game this season.

– Butler, Debo and Edwards each own five-game hitting streaks.

– Canaan Silver started game two for the Wolfpack and threw six innings to earn his first win in an NC State uniform. He struck out four batters and yielded three hits, two earned runs.

On Deck

NC State and Minnesota will wrap up the series on Sunday morning. First pitch has been moved up to an 11 a.m. start in an effort to try and avoid inclement weather later in the day.

(Photo Credit: @NCStateBaseball)

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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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12 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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