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NC State Baseball

#1 NC State’s 9th-Inning Rally Falls Short Against Virginia, 4-3

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5 years ago

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Trailing by three heading to the bottom of the ninth, the top-ranked NC State baseball team rallied with a pair of runs but fell short against Virginia, 4-3, Friday night in the series opener at Doak Field at Dail Park.

Sophomore David Vazquez led off the ninth for the Wolfpack with a double to right center and Luca Tresh stepped to the plate next to pinch-hit. Facing Virginia’s closer, the freshman fell behind in the count 0-2 but battled to even the count before smashing his second home run of the season to trim the NC State deficit to one.

Unfortunately for the Pack, Virginia’s Kyle Whitten responded to retire the next three batters to nail down his fourth save of the year. Andrew Abbott threw 3.1 innings of relief to earn his second win of the season, while Jason Parker was charged with his first loss after yielding four earned runs in 4.1 innings.

NC State is now 25-2 on the year and 8-2 in ACC play, while Virginia improves to 16-10 and 6-4 in league action.

Avent’s Additions

“I thought we battled as always and made it a good finish there in the top of the ninth,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “We had a chance with the top of the order up down one, but I thought they threw a couple really electric guys with great stuff. I think they’ve got a chance to pitch in the big leagues.

“We’ve got a good hitting ballclub, but they made it really tough on us. [Andrew] Blake came in and did a great job on the mound to give us a chance. As good as their guys were pitching, we still battled and had guys on base we just couldn’t get the big hit.”

Quick Hits

– Virginia struck first in the contest with a run in the second inning, as Zack Gelof singled to start the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Alex Tappen to take a 1-0 lead.

– The Cavaliers added a pair of runs in the third on a double play with the bases loaded and an RBI single from Gelof.

– A pair of doubles from Cameron Simmons and Nate Eikhoff extended the Virginia advantage to 4-0 in the top of the fifth.

– NC State answered with a run in the bottom of the inning after Vojtech Mensik and Jonny Butler walked prior to a single from Will Wilson to get the Wolfpack on the board and chase Virginia starter Griff McGarry.

– Reliever Andrew Abbott wiggled out of the jam with a called strikeout, as the Wolfpack could not get anything else.

– The Pack had a runner reach base in each inning after the fifth but was unable to get the big hit against a strong Virginia pitching staff.

Inside the Box Score

– Patrick Bailey and Evan Edwards each had a hit in the contest to extend their reached base safely streaks to 27, as they have reached in every game this season.

– Edwards singled up the middle in the sixth and Bailey doubled off the left field wall in the bottom of the eighth to keep his streak alive.

– Butler and Mensik also recorded hits, as both singled.

On the Mound

– Parker may not have had his best stuff on Friday night, but he battled to keep NC State in the game. 

– He went 4.1 innings with four strikeouts, three walks and four runs allowed before handing it over to Andrew Blake, who went the distance.

– Blake threw a career long 4.2 innings, fanning a career-best six batters. He allowed four hits and all were singles.

On Deck

NC State will return to the field for game two of the series against Virginia at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening at Doak Field at Dail Park.

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NC State Baseball

#21 NC State 6 #7 ECU 10: Box Score (with notes)

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11 hours ago

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April 23, 2024

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#21 NC State lost to #7 ECU 6-10 on the road this evening in a midweek game. As a result, the Pirates have won both games against the Wolfpack in 2024.

When you record 10 hits and score 6 runs, you would hope that’s enough offense to win a baseball game.

Unfortunately the Wolfpack pitching staff was unable to contain the bats of the Pirates, allowing ECU to put 15 hits and 10 runs in the Box Score.

Kudos to Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz for making a STATEment in his return to Clark-LeClair Stadium. A-Mak transferred to NC State from ECU this offseason. This evening Makarewicz was 2-4 with 1 RBI, 2 Runs, and 1 Walk.

A-Mak’s Home Run was a part of back-to-back-to-back Home Runs in the Top of the 3rd for the Wolfpack, with Sophomore Right Fielder Josh Hogue and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart also hitting bombs.

NC State will look to flush this loss, and get ready for a 3-game series at home this weekend against Ball State.

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NC State Baseball

#21 NC State is Looking for Revenge Against #7 ECU

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1 day ago

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April 23, 2024

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Earlier this season on April 2nd, #21 NC State (22-15) lost to #7 ECU (31-8) 4-12 in Raleigh. This evening the Wolfpack will look to get revenge against the Pirates in a game in Greenville at 6pm.

Overall, NC State holds a 71-43 advantage over East Carolina in the series, which dates back to 1957.

Last year, the Wolfpack and the Pirates split their 2-game series, ironically, losing at home, and winning in Greenville.

Replicating last years results will be no small task. The Pirates are ranked 7th in the land, and boast a 3-1 record against ranked opponents this season. One of those wins was against NC State, when the Wolfpack was ranked 19th. The other two ranked wins were at UNC when they were ranked 15th.

NC State has done well against ranked opponents, going 7-4 against teams in the Top-25, and 4-2 against teams in the Top-10.

The Pirates’ pitching staff leads the AAC and is in the Top-10 nationally in ERA (3.61), WHIP (1.18), hits allowed per nine innings (6.99) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.04).

ECU’s home field advantage is a real thing, going 20-2 at home thus far this season.

Senior Carter Cunningham leads the Pirates in nearly every offensive category, batting .396 with 9 Home Runs. He’s not alone though. Five of ECU’s regular starters have batting averages over .300.

It will be a homecoming for Senior Wolfpack Third Baseman Alec Makarewicz, who transferred to NC State from ECU this offseason. A-Mak is having the best season of his career, hitting 15 Home Runs while batting .349. It would be fitting for Makarewicz to win at his old stomping grounds.

 

 

 

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NC State Baseball

NC State is Solidly Back in the Top-25 After Series Victory Over Rival UNC

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2 days ago

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April 22, 2024

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NC State’s Baseball team is solidly back in the Top-25 after winning a series over rival UNC this past weekend, winning 2 of 3 at home. Last week, the Wolfpack were ranked 22nd in the Baseball America poll, but in none of the others.

NC State will play a midweek game at East Carolina tomorrow night on the road, and the Pirates rank 7th in the D1Baseball and Coaches Poll.

Baseball America – 17th

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D1Baseball – 21st

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USA Today Coaches Poll – 23rd

Perfect Game – 25th 

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NC State Baseball

NC State Wins Series, but Loses Finale to #11 UNC 14-3

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4 days ago

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April 20, 2024

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NC State won the first two games of the series, clinching their first series victory over rival #11 UNC since 2021, and the first one at home since 2016. The Wolfpack weren’t able to pull of the sweep this afternoon, losing the finale to the Tar Heels 3-14.

The NC State pitching staff didn’t have an answer for the UNC bats today. Starter Freshman Cooper Consiglio gave up 6 runs (5 earned) in 3.1 innings, striking out 4, and walking 4. The Wolfpack put 5 pitchers on the mound today, and every single one of them gave up runs. Sophomore Andrew Shaffner and Freshman Camden Wimbish both gave up 3 runs apiece.

Junior Jacob Cozart was the only bright spot in the Wolfpack’s offense today, hitting 2 solo Home Runs, marking only the 2nd time in his career that he has hit 2+ Home Runs in a single game.

The Wolfpack have two Top-10 series wins (Duke #9 and Clemson #2), and now another Top-15 series win (UNC #11).

Things don’t get any easier this Tuesday, playing #9 ECU on the road at 6pm. NC State should be ranked when they play the Pirates this week.

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