NC State Baseball
#10 NC State Splits Doubleheader, Clinches Series vs. BC
RALEIGH, N.C. – After earning a win on Friday in the ACC opener, No. 10 NC State baseball split a doubleheader with Boston College Saturday afternoon to clinch the series. The Wolfpack won the first game of the twin bill, 13-7, before dropping an 11-3 decision in the nightcap.
NC State moves to 13-3 overall and 2-1 in ACC play, while Boston College improves to 6-8 and 1-2 in conference action.
Quick Hits Game One
– Boston College jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the contest, but Shane Shepard cut the lead to one with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second.
– After the Eagles tacked on a run in the top half of the third, the Wolfpack countered in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs to even the score at 4-4 after an RBI single from Patrick Bailey and a throwing error by BC.
– NC State took its first lead of the game in the fourth following a leadoff double from Josh McLain and a single from Brett Kinneman to plate McLain.
– Brad Debo and Dillon Cooper each contributed RBI singles in the frame, as the Wolfpack scored four runs in the fourth to grab an 8-4 advantage.
– Boston College wouldn’t go away and trimmed the NC State lead to 8-6 with a pair of runs in the sixth.
– The Pack pushed across two runs in the seventh on a walk with the bases loaded and a hit-by-pitch to extend the tally to 10-6.
– Will Wilson doubled down the left field line and Debo singled up the middle to provide the Wolfpack’s final three runs of the contest.
Inside the Box Score
– Wilson led the Pack at the plate with a 4-for-5 performance with three runs scored and two RBI.
– Freshman J.T. Jarrett was 3-for-5 in the game and Debo was 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs.
– Nick Swiney was credited with the win after tossing three innings of relief, striking out a pair of batters and did not allow an earned run.
– For the second consecutive game, sophomore Kent Klyman earned the save with two hitless innings of work with two strikeouts.
Quick Hits Game Two
– NC State had a tough start to the second game of the day, as Boston College scored a pair of runs in the first and pulled away a few innings later.
– Kinneman hit his NCAA-leading ninth home run in the bottom of the eighth, a solo blast to right field.
– Debo smacked his first homer of the 2018 season in the ninth, a two-run shot to left field.
– Wilson drew a walk in the fourth inning to extend his reached base safely streak to 31 games, dating back to last season.
Up Next
NC State returns to action Tuesday afternoon when the Wolfpack hosts UNC Asheville at 3 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park.
After going 1-2 last week, NC State’s Baseball Team is still firmly in the Top-25. The Wolfpack lost in a midweek game to UNCW (#23 in Perfect Game), and then they split two games against FSU (#5 Baseball America).
Baseball America (-)
D1Baseball (-3)
Perfect Game (-)
The 20th ranked NC State Baseball team lost to #7 FSU 1-8 on the road this afternoon. After yesterday’s game was cancelled due to weather, the Wolfpack head back to Raleigh splitting the series with the Seminoles.
Sophomore Dominic Fritton gave up 5 earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched, walking 4. Senior Logan Whitaker made his return from injury, and gave up 3 earned runs in 1 inning pitched, walking 3. The Wolfpack bullpen wouldn’t allow another run the rest of the way, but their bats simply couldn’t muster any runs against FSU’s Dorsey and Hults.
The Wolfpack wasn’t without their offensive opportunities. They had 7 hits, which matched FSU’s total. NC State left 10 runners on base, while the Seminoles left 7.
Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makerewicz and Sophomore 2nd Baseman Matt Heavner both had 2 hits. Part of the Wolfpack’s problem, was the fact that only 1 of their 7 hits was an extra-base hit, and that was a Double by A-Mak. Makerewicz is batting .356 on the year.
Despite the loss, NC State heads into this week having clinched a spot in the 2024 ACC Tournament.
With a 13-10 ACC record, the Wolfpack currently sit 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
NC State will host Norfolk St. in a midweek game on Tuesday night at 7pm, and then will hit the road for a series against #11 Virginia next weekend.
#20 NC State upset #7 Florida St. 8-7 in the series opener down in Tallahassee this evening.
Freshman Cooper Consiglio was the hero on the mound this evening, coming in after Senior Sam Highfill and Sophomore Shane Van Dam, pitching 4.1 innings, while giving up only 1 earned run and striking out 5. It was probably Consiglio’s best performance of his collegiate career, marking the first time he’s ever pitched 4 innings, and given up 1 run or less. He now is 2-4 on the year with a 5.66 ERA.
Sophomore Derrick Smith picked up his 4th Save of the year, failing to give up a hit in 1.2 innings pitched, while striking out 3.
Left them loaded! @DrockSmith22 strikes out Fisher to leave the bases loaded in the eighth!#Pack9 pic.twitter.com/ZxrysbIJVI
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 4, 2024
Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart got things started off for the Wolfpack in the Top of the 2nd hitting his 9th Home Run in the past 9 games, and his 15th of the year.
Sophomore 2nd Baseman Matt Heavner led the Pack with 2 RBI’s tonight. The first followed Cozart’s bomb, hitting a Single in the Top of the 2nd that scored Sophomore Left Fielder Luke Nixon. Then Junior Chase Nixon hit a Single, and 2 NC State runners scored due to a wild throw.
In play, runs ➕2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/jb5gAAs727
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 3, 2024
Then in the Top of the 3rd, Heavner knocked in another run with a Sac Bunt, that scored Luke Nixon.
Small Ball™️ pic.twitter.com/4U61oxRbE5
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 3, 2024
Then Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III hit an RBI Single that scored Chase Nixon, giving the Wolfpack a 6-2 lead.
In the Top of the 6th, Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz hit a solo Home Run, his 18th of the season.
SEE. YOU. LATER. ✌️.#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/muKGGbkEqJ
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 4, 2024
In the same inning, Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth scored on a wild pitch, giving the Wolfpack their 8th run of the evening.
Senior starting Pitcher Sam Highfill was only able to pitch 2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs. Sophomore Shane Van Dam continues to struggle in relief, giving up 3 earned runs in 1 inning. His ERA is now up to 5.17. Van Dam left the game with an injury, which might have led to his exit.
The Wolfpack and the Seminoles will play Game 2 tomorrow at 7pm.
#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
