#23 NC State’s Batters & Pitchers Click on All Cylinders in 10-2 Win in Game 1 Against Canisius

#23 NC State (4-5) snapped a 5-game losing streak today, defeating Canisius (0-4) 10-2 at home. A recipe for getting out of a slump is for your batters and pitchers to catch fire on the same day.

After combining for 11 hits in the previous 3 games, the Wolfpack responded with 12 hits in today’s game.

Freshman center fielder Ty Head showed why Perfect Game ranked him as the #48 overall player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, going 2 for 3 with a Home Run, a Double, 5 RBIs, and a Run. With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd, Head hit a grand slam over the right field fence, giving the Wolfpack a lead they would never concede. On the season, he is now batting .333.

After collecting only 2 hits in his last 14 plate appearances, Sophomore Catcher Alex Sosa got back on track, going 2 for 4 with a Home Run, an RBI, 2 Runs, and a Walk.

Senior Shortstop Justin DeCriscio was the only other NC State batter with a 2+ hit performance, going 2 for 5 with a Double, 2 RBIs, and a Run.

The only starter to not record a hit today was Junior Right Fielder Brayden Fraasman (0-5).

NC State’s K/BB ratio entering the game was 67:36, but the team showed poise at the plate today, walking 5 times, compared to 4 strikeouts.

Only 2 Wolfpack pitchers were needed to finish 9 innings today. Junior Dominic Fritton was sensational, logging a quality start and his first win of the season, surrendering only 1 earned run over 6 innings, striking out 12, setting a new career high. The last time an NC State pitcher struck out 12 batters was on February 20th, 2022, when Chris Villaman fanned 12. After struggling last season, Fritton is bouncing back in a big way, boasting a 1.20 ERA through 3 starts.

Sophomore Jaxon Lucas also set a new career high in strikeouts, fanning 6 batters in 3 shutout innings. He also picked up the first save of his career.

Game 2 between NC State and Canisius is set for 2 PM tomorrow. Sophomore Heath Andrews will start for the Pack, who has a 2.70 ERA in his first two starts, striking out 11 batters in 10 innings.