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#5 NC State Routs Pitt to Clinch Series, Remain Unbeaten

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Headlined by a season-high 24 hits and 21 runs, the 5th-ranked NC State baseball team rolled past Pitt, 21-3, Saturday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park to clinch the series and remain unbeaten.

The Wolfpack moves to 14-0 on the year and 2-0 in ACC play, while the Panthers fall to 6-6 and 0-2 in conference action. NCSU is one of the nation’s four remaining unbeaten teams, joined by Arizona State, Florida State and Tennessee.

Junior Andrew Blake was stellar in relief, throwing 4.1 shutout innings with five strikeouts to earn his first win in an NC State uniform. Pitt’s starter Dan Hammer, who entered the game leading the ACC in strikeouts, was charged with the loss and falls to 2-1 on the year.

Game Notes

– NC State’s 21 runs in the contest are the most in a game since last year’s 21-4 victory against Campbell at home on March 3, 2018.

– The 21 runs are the most in an ACC game since April 18, 2010, when the Wolfpack defeated Maryland, 22-6.

– The Pack’s 21 runs are also the third most by an ACC team this season.

– NC State’s 24 hits are the most in a game since April 24, 2016 (25) against NC A&T and the most in a conference game since March 30, 2007 (24) against Boston College.

– NC State hit back-to-back, pinch-hit home runs in the game, as Luca Tresh and Thayer Thomas each hit solo home runs.

– It was the first time the Wolfpack has hit consecutive homers this season.

– The Wolfpack scored a season-high eight runs in the fourth inning.

– Each position player had at least one at-bat in the contest and all nine starters in the Wolfpack’s lineup tallied a hit.

Avent’s Additions

“I thought we played well, obviously,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “They got three runs in the first and had one of the ACC’s best pitchers taking the mound with a lead and our games came back and got a couple runs off him.

“Then we tied it up and then took control of the game after that. We did a great job on reading balls in the dirt when we were on the bases, we did a great job bunting and did a lot of good things. I thought [Andrew] Blake settled things down when he came in, shut them down and allowed us to have a chance to win.”

Quick Hits

– Pitt jumped on top with three runs in the top of the first, but from there it was all NC State as the Wolfpack scored 21 unanswered runs.

– Patrick Bailey tripled to in the third and scored the tying run on an RBI single from Brad Debo to knot the score at 3-3.

– Terrell Tatum started the fourth by legging out an infield single to second base and a pair of perfectly-place bunt singles followed from J.T. Jarrett and Jonny Butler to load the bases.

– Will Wilson singled to drive in a run and Evan Edwards doubled to left center, as NC State grabbed a 6-3 lead.

– Bailey stepped to the plate next and hit a two-RBI double off the wall in right field to extend the Pack’s advantage before scoring on an error by the Panthers.

– A balk call pushed across the seventh run of the inning and Tatum tallied his second hit of the frame to put NC State ahead, 11-3.

– In the fifth, Tyler McDonough drove in Bailey to make it 12-3, after he doubled earlier in the frame.

– Tresh and Thomas hit consecutive, pinch-hit homers in the seventh as the first round-tripper for both players.

– Doubles from Marek Chlup and Debo highlighted a seven-run eighth inning for the Wolfpack, as it pulled ahead, 21-3, which stood as the final tally.

On Deck

NC State and Pitt will wrap-up the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park.

Photo Credit: @NCStateBaseball

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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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