NC State Baseball
#13 NC State Fails to Hold on To Lead Against Hawaii, Losing 5-7
#13 NC State failed to hold onto a lead in the 8th inning, ultimately falling to Hawaii 5-7 in the 2nd game of the series last night.
Here’s a crazy stat for you. Only 2 of the Runs NC State allowed were earned runs. In the bottom of the 2nd, an error by 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz put a man on 1st. After Pitcher Dom Fritton hit a batter, putting runners on 1st and 2nd, he then committed a throwing error, which led to the first Hawaii Run to come across the plate. Fritton would then walk two straight batters, with the last one bringing a man across home plate. That run was unearned as well.
In the Bottom of the 8th inning, Hawaii scored 4 runs, but only 1 of them should have happened. With 2 outs, Freshman Jacob Dudan struck out the batter, but the ball got by Catcher Jacob Cozart, resulting in a run coming across the plate. The very next play, Hawaii logged a single that drove in two more unearned runs.
After all of the defensive woes last season, this was tough to swallow.
Starting Pitcher, Sophomore Dom Fritton was improved from his first start. He didn’t give up any earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched (2 unearned runs scored). With that being said, to throw 80 pitches, and only make it through 3.2 innings isn’t very efficient. Fritton walked two batters, and hit three more.
Freshman Jaxon Lucas gave up 2 earned runs (+ 1 unearned run) in 4 innings of relief (64 pitches), striking out 4.
Freshman Cooper Consiglio made his debut, but he walked the only batter he faced before being removed. Even though it was an unearned run, the player he walked scored, ultimately giving Consiglio a loss in his first appearance, facing one batter. Wild.
NC State did log 10 hits, with 1B Garrett Pennington, 3B Alec Makarewicz and C Jacob Cozart each picking up 2 apiece.
CF Eli Serrano III led the team with 2 RBI’s.
Freshman Jake Bechtel hit a home run in his collegiate debut.
#20 NC State will head down to Tallahassee tomorrow for a 3-game series against #7 FSU. Before they do, here’s a look at where NC State is projected to land in the 2024 NCAA Tournament as things currently stand.
Last week, both D1Baseball and Baseball America projected the Wolfpack to play as a #2 seed in the Greenville Regional (ECU), with the former projecting the Pirates to be a #6 seed, and the latter projecting them to be a #8 seed.
This week, D1Baseball has NC State as a #2 seed in the Lexington Regional, with Kentucky as a #5 seed. Baseball America still has the Wolfpack as a #2 seed in the Greenville Region, with the Pirates still sitting as a #8 seed.
D1Baseball
Baseball America
#20 NC State lost to UNC-Wilmington 4-5 this evening at home, losing their 5th straight midweek game. The Wolfpack were swept by the Seahawks this year, ironically losing 4-5 down in Wilmington on April 9th.
Freshman Ryan Marohn got the starting nod, and he was excellent, giving up 1 earned run in 5 innings pitched, striking out 7. It was arguably his best start since his collegiate debut against VCU in the opening series.
Sophomore Shane Van Dam was Mr. Reliable through much of the season, but he hasn’t had his best stuff as of late. This evening, he faced four batters, hitting 2, walking another, and surrendering a hit to the other. Van Dam failed to record an out, and gave up 3 earned runs. Heading into the UNC game back on April 18th, Van Dam had a 2.63 ERA. After the past 4 appearances, his ERA has shot up to 3.96.
Freshman Jacob Dudan settled things down, pitching 4 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 hit, while striking out 5.
Unfortunately, Sophomore Derrick Smith allowed the Seahawks to score a run in the Top of the 10th, which was enough for the opposing team to leave Raleigh with a win, with NC State failing to score a run in the final 5 frames.
Junior Jacob Cozart continues an insane power surge, hitting two more Home Runs tonight. Cozart has hit 7 Home Runs in the past 6 games.
*Scheduled tweet* pic.twitter.com/eHvyuGT6so
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
SCOREBOARD SHOT 🚀 pic.twitter.com/tMvY8imzgG
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
Cozart now has 14 Home Runs on the year. His previous career high was 11.
Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington also hit a Solo Home Run, his 11th bomb of the year.
Goodbye Baseball ✌️#Pack9 | @Garrettpenn14 pic.twitter.com/p0tySYt3aF
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
On Friday, the Wolfpack will head down to Tallahassee for a 3-game series against #7 Florida State.
After sweeping Ball State this past weekend, NC State jumped up in almost all of the Top-25 polls.
Baseball America – 13th (+4)
RPI – 20th (+9)
D1Baseball – 20th (+1)
USAToday Coaches Poll – 20th (+3)
Perfect Game – 25th (-)
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