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NC State Baseball

Johnston’s Shutout Leads to ACC Pitcher of the Week Honors

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5 years ago

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – After throwing his first career complete game shutout in Saturday’s 3-0win against Virginia, top-ranked NC State baseball’s Reid Johnston has been named the ACC Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.

“Reid was the story of the game,” head coach Elliott Avent said following Saturday’s win. “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.”

Johnston was phenomenal on the mound against the Cavaliers, as he accomplished something he had never done – throwing a complete game shutout. The sophomore pounded the strike zone early and often, as he matched his career high with seven strikeouts and only walked one batter. The one batter he walked was the lone three-ball count he had on the night and it was in the first inning, as Johnston fired 72 strikes on 104 pitches.

It was also the longest outing of his career, surpassing his previous career long of 6.2 innings pitched in a win at Duke last season. He struck out the side in the top of the first and that provided him all the momentum he needed to accomplish the first shutout for a Wolfpack pitcher since June 1, 2013, when Carlos Ródon shut out William & Mary in the NCAA Regional.

“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.”

Additionally, it was just the second shutout of the season by an ACC pitcher and just one of five complete games by a pitcher from the conference. He surrendered just six hits, and all were singles. Johnson retired the side in order four times and struck out the side once. 

His strong outing helped improve his earned run average (ERA) from 2.93 to 2.21, which ranks among the top 10 in the ACC, and he’s a perfect 4-0 on the year.

Johnston earns the first pitcher of the week honor of his young career and the second of the season for a Wolfpack pitcher, as Jason Parker earned the award on March 18.

NC State returns to action Tuesday eveningagainst the South Carolina Gamecocks. The matchup will be played at BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte, home of the Charlotte Knights. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

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NC State Baseball

WATCH All 9 of NC State’s RBI’s From Their 9-8 Walk-Off Win Over #11 UNC

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12 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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NC State just defeated their rival #11 UNC 9-8 in dramatic fashion, walking it off in the Bottom of the 9th inning via a Solo Home Run from Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth.

The Wolfpack victory snapped a 5-game losing streak to the Tar Heels.

Check out all 9 RBI’s from NC State’s 6th walk-off win of the season, which leads the nation.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Defeats #11 UNC 9-8 with Walk-Off HR in Series Opener

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13 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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NC State just defeated #11 UNC 9-8 via a walk-off Home Run from Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth in the Bottom of the 9th inning.

The Wolfpack have 6 walk-off wins in 2024, which leads the nation.

In a game in which there was a combined 8 Home Runs between both teams, it was the last one that mattered most.

UNC kicked things off in the Top of the 1st inning with a Home Run from Casey Cook. The Wolfpack would respond in the Bottom of the 1st with a 2-RBI Single from Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart.

Cook would hit another Home Run in the Top of the 3rd, and Vance Honeycutt would also hit a 2-Run Home Run, giving the Tar Heels a 4-2 lead.

Once again, the Wolfpack responded in the bottom frame. Senior Third Baseman Alec Makarewicz hit his 15th Home Run of the season.

Junior Outfielder Chase Nixon had an RBI Single, and his Freshman brother Luke (2B) brought in the third run of the inning on a fielders choice, giving the Wolfpack a 5-4 lead.

The 4th inning was the only inning of the contest in which no runs were scored.

UNC’s Park Harber tied the game in the Top of the 5th with a solo shot.

Cozart was the Wolfpack’s MVP, giving his team a 3-run cushion in the bottom of the 6th inning with a 3-run Home Run. He had 5 RBI’s this evening.

The cushion wasn’t enough, with the Tar Heels scoring 3 runs over the next two innings. Alberto Osuna hit a solo shot, Alex Madera had an RBI Single, and Harber hit a sac fly.

With the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, with one out, Brandon Butterworth crushed the ball over the left field fence, snapping a 5-game losing streak against UNC.

Wolfpack Starter Sam Highfill lasted 3.1 innings, giving up 4 runs, while striking out 4. His ERA on the year is 5.16.

It was Sophomore Shane Van Dam that brought stability to the mound, pitching 3.2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs, while striking out 5. On the year, Van Dam’s ERA is 2.90.

Sophomore Derrick Smith came in to close things out, and gave up 1 run on 1 hit in 2 innings, striking out 2. Smith picked up the Win, and is 3-0 on the year.

Game 2 of the series is tomorrow night at 6pm at Doak Field. The Wolfpack will look to secure their first series victory over their rival since 2021, and their first one at home since 2016.

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NC State Baseball

NC State vs. UNC: A Historical Perspective

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20 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels face one another on the diamond at 7pm on ACC Network.

NC State holds a 139-175-1 record against North Carolina in the all-time series.

NC State’s most recent series victory over North Carolina came in style, taking all three games in Chapel Hill with a three-game sweep over the Tar Heels from March 26-29, 2021. The Wolfpack allowed just six runs over three games in a dominant sweep over UNC, outscoring the Tar Heels 23-6 .

NC State has hosted UNC just twice over the past eight seasons. NC State’s most recent home series victory over North Carolina came from May 19-21, 2016. The Wolfpack won the rubber match, claiming the series with a dominant 10-1 victory on May 21.

North Carolina has won five straight in the series dating back to a series at Doak Field at Dail Park in 2022. NC State’s most recent win over the Tar Heels came in game one of a doubleheader on May 8, 2022, cruising to a 9-2 victory over UNC.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Baseball Bracketology Report Heading into UNC Series

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1 day ago

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April 18, 2024

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NC State and #11 UNC will kickoff a 3-game series in Raleigh tonight, but before the two rivals hit the diamond, here’s a Bracketology report for the Wolfpack before the first pitch.

D1Baseball currently projects that NC State will be the #2 seed in Greenville Region, hosted by #9 seed East Carolina. Back on April 2nd, the Wolfpack lost 4-12 to the Pirates at the Doak.

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Baseball America projects NC State will be a #2 seed in the Knoxville Region, hosted by #6 seed Tennessee.

The Wolfpack are currently 20-14 overall, ranking 33rd in the RPI.

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