NC State Baseball’s Wild Week of Upsets, Rain and Arrests

In a three-day span for Pack Baseball;

• -Two players were arrested.
• -A monstrous 9-2 win against rival, and #11 ranked, UNC.
• -Took another lead into the 8th, before rain.
• -More rain and rain and rain.

Big Win and then Waiting

This weekend’s games against ranked UNC, were more than important for State baseball. Not only were they looking for their second series win of the season (first was the two-game sweep against Davidson to start the year), but they were wandering further and further into the depths of the Atlantic conference standings.

Prior to Friday’s game, State was 1-8 in the ACC, trailing Louisville (8-3) and Notre Dame (10-4) by a substantial margin. Then they got things going.

Reid Johnston moved to 2-0 on the year, with a complete game, 7 hit, 2 ER, 4 strikeout game. If there were any questions who should be State’s Game 1 pitcher each weekend, we found our answer. McDonough and Mensik went yard, for Mensik his first.

Then in Game two, State kept it rolling. Wolfpack jumped out to a 6-1 lead behind bombs from Murr and Tatum. The game was eventual halted heading into the bottom of the eighth.

With, assuming (knock on wood), a win in the early game Monday, State could go for the sweep and officially creep out of the Atlantic basement.

Arrests

In an incident that happened Wednesday night, but reports coming out Friday, State pitchers Kent Klyman and David Harrison were arrested on a multitude of charges. Before going any further it should be stated, details still need to come out and legal processes to follow.

According to reports, Harrison and Klyman broke into a hall in Wolf Village and upon entering, attacked an individual. The two are charged with breaking and entering, with additional assault and battery charges.

Kent Klyman, coming into the season, was the backend hammer, only 16 saves away from being State’s all-time leader. This season, in more ways than one, hasn’t gone as planned. Through his State career, Klyman has kept sub-3 ERA. This year, however, he’s gone 1-2 and in six games given up 8 earned runs, while going just about even in walks (7) versus strikeouts (8).

Junior David Harrison had a decent start to the season, seeing action in just four games with a 3.42 ERA.

Both players, for the time being, have been suspended from the team and removed from the roster.

Where Does State Go Now?

Aside from legal implications, State baseball actually has a prime opportunity to salvage their season. If they can get two wins (and fingers crossed a sweep), the schedule becomes much easier. A home series against Clemson, on the road to Boston College and sporadic games against UNCG, App State and NC A&T over the next two weeks. If they can get consistent pitching and bats stay hot, maybe able to take 7 of 9 during that stretch, including big ACC games.

Outside of Notre Dame and Florida State series, State’s remaining schedule is predominately middle of the pack teams. By no means will they be able to get a top-2 seed for tournament play, they can definitely find themselves in a better position come May.

Weather the storm, get some wins (GTHC) and let’s see what happens.