Dalton Bargo goes 3-4 with a homer in Wolfpacks sesaon-opening rout of Washington 13-0

Tennessee transfer Dalton Bargo has quite the introduction, as he went 3-4 with a HR and 2 RBIs in NC State’s season opening win over Washington.

The Pack poured in 13 runs on 16 hits and ended up run-ruling the Huskies in the opening game of the Puerto Rico Challenge.

NC State got what they expected from ace Ryan Marohn, as he went 4.2 innings, giving up 6 hits, no runs, while striking out 6.

Coming into the season, there were questions about NC State’s middle of the lineup pop, but Indiana transfer (and MLB prospect) Andrew Wiggins quickly put an end to that in the 4th, hitting a mammoth shot over the wall in left-center for his first homer of the season.

Dalton Bargo followed up in the 5th with a homer of his own, after a Luke Nixon opposite-way double down the line drove in another.

Luke Nixon singled in a run in the 5th. McHugh hit a sac fly in the 6th, and NC State dropped another 5-spot in the 7th, highlighted by a Shermin Johnson off the wall double to left center.

6 NC State players had multi-hit games in this one, led by Bargo and Nixon with 3. Chris McHugh, Mikey Ryan, Shermin Johnson and Drew Lanphere all had 2 hits.

Another plus stat was 2 walks and a hit from Brayden Fraasman. NC State is expecting big things from Fraasman this season, but his ability to work walks and get on base was a question coming into the season. Taking 2 free passes in game 1 is definitely something encouraging.

Some interesting lineup notes:

– Chris McHugh started in LF instead of 1B, where he was projected to play this season
– Sherman Johnson got the start at 3B over gold glover Wyatt Pfeifer. Sherman had 2 hits, including a double and Pfeifer came in for defense late in the game
– Wiggins was at DH. With Fraasman, Head and McHugh in the OF, Rett Johnson (star freshman) was the odd man out.

Here is the box…

NC State plays tomorrow morning at 9:30am vs. Indiana State (on Victory +).