NC State Baseball
#6 NC State Baseball Slips Past George Mason, 3-2 (w/ highlights)
RALEIGH, N.C. – The sixth-ranked NC State baseball team slipped past the visiting George Mason Patriots Tuesday afternoon with a 3-2 victory at Doak Field at Dail Park. The Wolfpack scored all three of its runs in the second inning, but its stellar pitching staff held the visitors in check.
NC State moves to 21-4 on the year, which is the best start for the program since 2003 when the squad had an identical record under head coach Elliott Avent, while George Mason falls to 10-12.
Freshman Nick Swiney earned the win on the mound and is now 3-0, while redshirt senior Joe O’Donnell shut the door in the ninth to secure his fifth save.
Avent’s Additions
On matching the program’s best start since 2003…
“The thing I’m most proud of about this program is the consistency through the last 50 years, which has been incredible,” said Avent. “I think the reason we’re 21-4 is that we’ve had unbelievable senior leadership. It’s impressive to watch this team go about their business. We were very fortunate to win today, but we’ll take it.”
“Baseball’s not an easy game to play, but it’s a fun game to watch and it’s a fun game to watch when it’s played well and right now these guys are going about their business very, very well.”
Quick Hits
– George Mason struck first in the contest after a double down the left field line by Greg Popatak and an RBI single by Scott Morgan to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.
– NC State countered in the bottom half of the second inning with three runs to take the lead and never relinquished it.
– Senior Brock Deatherage sparked the offense for the Wolfpack by legging out a bunt single before stealing second base to get into scoring position.
– Following a walk by Shane Shepard, Dillon Cooper reached on an infield single to the shortstop and an errant throw allowed Deatherage to score and knot the game at one apiece.
– Shepard and Cooper scored on a fielding error by the George Mason second baseman, as the Wolfpack capitalized on the miscue to grab a 3-1 lead.
– The Patriots got a run back in the fourth but could not get any closer.
Inside the Box Score
– Sophomore Will Wilson singled to center field in the bottom of the sixth to extend his reached base safely streak to 40 games dating back to last season.
– Senior Josh McLain had a hit in the third inning to stretch his hitting streak to 13 games, as he has tallied a hit in 24 of the Wolfpack’s 25 games.
On the Mound
– Freshman Reid Johnston started on the mound for NC State and pitched four innings with three strikeouts.
– Classmate Swiney relieved him and threw 3.2 innings, allowing just one hit and fanned four batters.
– With a runner on third in the eighth, Nolan Clenney entered the game to pitch and struck out the only batter he faced to end the threat.
– O’Donnell got a flyout, looking strikeout and groundout in the ninth to log the save.
– The Wolfpack’s pitching staff leads the ACC with 12 saves on the year.
Box Score
Up Next
NC State returns to action this weekend when the Wolfpack heads to Blacksburg, Va., for a three-game series at Virginia Tech. In observance of Easter weekend, the series will be played Thursday through Saturday. Thursday’s game is set for 4 p.m. at English Field at Union Park.
#23 NC State shutout Norfolk State 18-0 this evening, snapping a 5-game losing streak in midweek games.
Freshman Ryan Marohn pitched 4.2 innings scoreless innings, picking up his 3rd Win of the season (3-2).
It was a hit parade for the Wolfpack, racking up 15 hits. Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz led the way with 3 hits and 3 RBI’s, and Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III led the team with 4 Runs.
Freshman Catcher Alex Sosa hit his 2nd Home Run of the year, and his first ever in Doak Field.
First of many homers at #TheDoak for @ASOS131 😤 pic.twitter.com/Qvcp6OdE2o
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 7, 2024
Sophomore Andrew Shaffner, who has served as a relief Pitcher for the Wolfpack all year, finally picked up his first collegiate Hit, going 0-5 up to this point this season. His first Hit was a 2 RBI Single.
First-career hit ✅
First two RBI ✅@shaffner_andrew makes it 11-0 Pack! pic.twitter.com/OBHFjOtq9K— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) May 7, 2024
NC State will now prepare to head to Virginia to play the 10th ranked Cavaliers in a 3-game series this weekend.
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.