NC State Baseball
NC State Drops Series Opener At Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The NC State baseball team had a tough day on the field Thursday evening, as the Virginia Tech Hokies opened the series with a 10-2 win at English Field at Union Park.
The loss was just the fifth of the season for the sixth-ranked Wolfpack, as the squad has won eight of its last 10 games.
NC State falls to 21-5 on the year and 7-3 in ACC play, while Virginia Tech moves to 11-13 and 5-5 in conference action. Sophomore Michael Bienlien started on the mound for the Wolfpack and was hit with the loss, while Tech’s Connor Coward earned his second win of the season.
Quick Hits
– For the sixth time this season, NC State scored in the first inning as the Wolfpack plated a pair of runs to take an early lead.
– Making his return from injury, Stephen Pitarra led off the game with a walk and advanced to third after a double to right field by Brett Kinneman, as he narrowly missed his 13th home run of the season.
– Pitarra scored his first run of the season to give NC State a 1-0 lead, as Josh McLain reached on an error by the second baseman.
– Brock Deatherage dropped a perfect bunt and Kinneman scored from third to make it 2-0 in favor of the Wolfpack.
– NC State ran into trouble in the third inning and could not get out of it, as Virginia Tech plated eight runs in the frame and the Wolfpack could not make up the deficit.
– Sophomore Mathieu Gauthier delivered a strong relief appearance for the Pack, as he threw five innings and did not allow a run until the bottom of the eighth.
Up Next
NC State and Virginia Tech will return to the field Friday afternoon for game two of the series. First pitch is slated 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.