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NC State Baseball

Wolfpack Baseball Sweeps Irish in Double Dip

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10 years ago

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For full stats and game highlights CLICK HERE (GoPack.com)

RALEIGH, N.C. – No. 6 NC State baseball swept both games of a doubleheader against Notre Dame on Saturday at Doak Field at Dail Park, thanks to superb pitching performances across the board, and game-winning hits from Jake Armstrong and Jake Fincher.

Game 1

In Saturday’s opener, Carlos Rodon (2-2) threw the fifth complete game of his career, lifting the Wolfpack (12-2, 2-0 ACC) to a 5-3 win by holding the Irish (5-8, 0-2) to three earned while striking out seven. Rodon walked one and scattered 10 hits.

Armstrong provided the heroics with a two-RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth, his only hit in a 1-for-3 ballgame with two RBIs and a run scored. Freshman Nathan Hood made his second start of the year and provided a 2-for-4 outing with an RBI, the Pack’s only multi-hit effort.

Trea Turner scored twice in a 1-for-4 performance. Brett Austin doubled for his only hit. Logan Ratledge drove in a pair of RBIs. Garrett Suggs drew the start in right and went 1-for-3.

State fell into a 1-0 hole in the third, but regrouped to tie the game 1-1 in the fifth on Hood’s RBI single to center. The Pack rallied to tie the game 3-3 in the sixth on Ratledge’s two-RBI single to left.

Knotted 3-3 in the eighth, Turner led off with a single up the middle and took second on a wild pitch. Bubby Riley walked behind him, and Ratledge bunted the pair into scoring position. Armstrong drilled a 1-1 pitch up the middle to score both and set the final margin at 5-3.

 

GAME 2

In the nightcap, State prevailed 1-0 as Logan Jernigan (2-0) tied his career-long of 7 1/3 innings pitched, matching a record he set in his start last week against Michigan. Jernigan struck out eight, one short of tying a career high set twice during his freshman season. D.J. Thomas picked up his first save of 2014 in 1 2/3 innings of relief, holding the Irish scoreless on one hit with two punchouts. Jernigan has held opponents scoreless for his last 21 2/3 innings.

Austin contributed the third triple of his career, and first of the season, in a 2-for-4 day with the lone run scored. Fincher earned the game’s only RBI on a liner smashed to the second baseman’s left side, part of a 2-for-3 outing. Turner and Armstrong added the Pack’s only other hits in the pitcher’s duel, each going 1-for-3.

State broke through in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out rally started by Austin’s triple to the wall in straightaway center. Fincher knocked a single through the right side next to plate the game’s only run.

NC State returns to action on Sunday, March 9 for the series finale with Notre Dame. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Fans can follow along with live stats on GoPack.com, or with Twitter updates from @NCStateBaseball. Radio duties will be handled by 88.1 WKNC. Streaming coverage will be available on ESPN3.

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NC State Baseball

#17 NC State’s Late Game Heroics Strike Again, Defeating #8 Wake Forest 9-6 to Complete the Sweep

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3 hours ago

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May 18, 2024

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#17 NC State’s late game heroics continued this afternoon, defeating #8 Wake Forest 9-6 in dramatic fashion late in the game for the 3rd straight game, completing the sweep of the Demon Deacons.

With the game tied 6-6, the Wolfpack scored 3 runs in the Bottom of the 8th inning, that would end up being the winning runs. With 2 outs, Freshman Alex Sosa scored on a throwing error, and Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington followed that up with a 2 RBI Double.

Senior Starting Pitcher Logan Whitaker gave up 5 runs (1 unearned) in 4 innings pitched, striking out 5, while walking none. Freshman Ryan Marohn was fabulous in relief, giving up only 1 earned run in 4 innings pitched, striking out 4. Marohn has been extremely dependable as a True Freshman. After picking up the Win today, he boasts a 4-2 record with a 3.60 ERA.

Sophomore Derrick Smith came in to close things out in the Bottom of the 9th, and in electric fashion, he struck out all three batters to pick up his 5th Save of the season.

Sosa had himself a day, putting the Pack on the board in the Bottom of the 2nd with an RBI Single, which was followed up by a Solo Home Run in the Bottom of the 6th inning.

Pennington and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart both had 3 RBI’s this afternoon. Pennington not only hit his 2 RBI Double in the Bottom of the 8th, but he also hit an RBI Single in the Bottom of the 5th. Cozart hit a 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 6th.

Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III and Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makerewicz also had multi-hit performances. Serrano III was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a Run, while A-Mak was 2 for 1 with a Run.

With the victory, NC State secured the #3 seed in this upcoming weeks 2024 ACC Tournament, and more than likely locked up a spot as a Regional Host in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

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NC State Baseball

With a Win Today, #17 NC State Will Secure a Top-4 Spot in the 2024 ACC Baseball Tournament

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10 hours ago

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May 18, 2024

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After last night’s dramatic walk-off victory over #8 Wake Forest, #17 NC State is 17-11 in ACC play, and if the season were to end today, the Wolfpack would a Top-4 seed in next weeks ACC Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.

UNC has locked up the #1 seed (21-9), and Clemson has locked up the #2 seed (19-10)

NC State and FSU are tied with conference records of 17-11, but as things currently stand, the Wolfpack would be the #3 seed over FSU. NC State currently holds the edge over the Seminoles according to tie breaker rules. In head-to-head games, the two teams split. The Wolfpack hold the edge due to having a better Divisional record.

Here are the scenarios for the Pack heading into the regular season finale against Wake Forest this afternoon:

NC State will secure the #3 spot if they win today in the series finale against Wake Forest.

If NC State loses, FSU loses, and UVA loses, NC State will secure the #3 seed.

If NC State loses, FSU loses, and UVA wins, NC State would secure the #4 seed.

If NC State loses, FSU wins and UVA loses, the Wolfpack will secure the #4 seed.

If NC State loses, FSU wins and UVA wins, the Wolfpack will fall out of the Top-4, and be the #5 seed.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Hosting a Regional in the 2024 NCAA Tournament is Looking Likely

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13 hours ago

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May 18, 2024

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After beating #8 Wake Forest in walk-off fashion for the 2nd straight night, securing a series victory over the Demon Deacons, #17 NC State is looking like they are in a prime position to be a Regional Host in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The Wolfpack have an overall record of 31-19, and rank 3rd overall in the ACC with a 17-11 record.

As things currently stand, NC State ranks 15th in the RPI heading into their final game of the regular season.

Their resume is juicy, with Series Victories over 4 Top-10 teams (Duke, Wake Forest, Clemson & UVA), and 5 Top-12 teams (UNC). That’s not including the fact that they split a 2-game series against a Top-10 team in FSU.

With a win today in the series finale, there shouldn’t even be a debate.

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NC State Baseball

#17 NC State Walks-It-Off for the 2nd Night in a Row Against #8 Wake Forest, Winning 2-1

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23 hours ago

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May 18, 2024

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For the 2nd night in a row, #17 NC State defeated #8 Wake Forest in walk-off fashion, when Senior Noah Soles drew a Walk with the bases loaded.

Sophomore Dominic Fritton gave up only 1 earned run in 4.2 innings, striking out 5. The bullpen handled business after Fritton left the game. Sophomore Andrew Shaffner and Freshman Jacob Dudan combined for 4.1 innings of no-hit baseball. Combined, the NC State pitching staff held the Demon Deacons to only 3 hits.

Junior Chase Nixon was the source of the only other Wolfpack RBI via a Single in the 6th inning, driving home his brother Luke.

NC State clinched a series victory against Wake Forest for the first time since 2021, and the first time at home since 2018.

The Wolfpack should have locked up a spot as a Regional Host in the upcoming 2024 NCAA Tournament with a series victory over #8 Wake Forest. NC State now has 4 series victories against Top-10 teams, and 5 Top-12 teams.

NC State will close out the regular season tomorrow in the series finale against Wake Forest at 3pm.

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