NC State Baseball
Johnston’s Complete Game Shutout Lifts #1 NC State to 3-0 Win Over UVA
RALEIGH, N.C. – Sophomore Reid Johnston struck out the side in the top of the first and that provided him all the momentum he needed to accomplish something that he had never done, throwing a complete game shutout to lift No. 1 NC State to a 3-0 win against Virginia Friday night at Doak Field at Dail Park.
Johnston’s shutout is just the second of the season by an ACC pitcher and is the first for the Wolfpack since Carlos Rodón accomplished the feat against William & Mary on June 1, 2013.
“I thought it was a great college baseball game with two great pitchers going at it,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “Their guy was very, very good and it’s been a series of pitching so far. Two good teams and both playing good defense.
“Reid [Johnston] was the story of the game. He threw just over 100 pitches, only walked one and just threw strikes. He commanded the strike zone and used his changeup very effectively. He was very, very good.”
NC State (26-2, 9-2 ACC) evens the series with Virginia (16-11, 6-5 ACC), as the teams will square off in the rubber game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
In a well-pitched game from both teams that featured only three combined walks, it was Johnston that stole the show with the longest outing of his career, surpassing his previous high of 6.2 innings. He also matched his career-best in strikeouts with seven.
“I had so much adrenaline in the ninth inning that I could hardly control myself,” said Johnston. “I was trying to take it pitch-by-pitch and not get too hyped up. I try to lock in and visualize what I need to do and that helped.
“I always try to pound the strike zone and if they hit it, they hit it.”
The Wolfpack grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second after an RBI double to right center off the bat of David Vazquez, which allowed freshman Tyler McDonough to score from first.
NC State added to its advantage in the fifth when sophomore Jonny Butler launched the first home run of his Wolfpack career, a two-run blast over the right field wall. Vazquez walked prior to his at-bat and scored to make it a 3-0 lead.
With the way Johnston pitched, three runs were more than enough for the Pack to secure the win. Patrick Bailey doubled in the game and Evan Edwards singled, as both extended their reached base safely streaks to 28 games – having reached in every game this season.