#23 NC State Falls to Richmond 1-5, Losing Their 5th Straight Game

The 23rd ranked NC State Baseball team’s woes continued this afternoon, falling to Richmond (7-1). After sweeping Fordham on opening weekend, the Wolfpack has lost five straight games.

Junior Andrew Shaffner got his first start of the season after pitching well in three relief appearances in the first seven games. In his first three outings, Shaffner gave up two earned runs in six innings of work, striking out four. Shaffner wasn’t the reason that NC State lost to the Spiders today, giving up one earned run in three innings, striking out two.

Although it would be preferable for the pitching staff to give up fewer than five earned runs, the Wolfpack’s offense remained anemic for the third consecutive game. Richmond held NC State to four hits today, with sophomore second baseman Luke Nixon’s double being the only extra-base hit. Sophomore first baseman Chris McHugh had the lone RBI. The Wolfpack’s strikeout-to-walk ratio was an abysmal 10:1.

For the past three games, NC State has been held to four hits or less (Alabama – 3, Coastal Carolina – 3, & Richmond – 3).

After shining in his college debut against Liberty (three innings/zero earned runs/two strikeouts), Freshman Anderson Nance has now struggled in his last two appearances. After yielding two earned runs in 1.2 innings against Alabama, Nance surrendered three earned runs over 3.2 innings today.

Sophomore Cooper Consiglio gave up one earned run in 0.1 innings today. In his past two outings, he has given up four earned runs in one inning, after giving up zero earned runs in 3.2 innings in his first two appearances.

Senior Carson Kelly didn’t allow any runs in 1.2 innings today and has not given up a run in three appearances this season, totaling 2.2 innings.

This weekend, the Wolfpack will look to snap a five-game losing streak when they host Canisius for a three-game series.