NC State Baseball
No. 2 NC State Baseball Runs Past Third-Ranked Duke in Series Opener, 9-2
DURHAM, N.C. – The second-ranked NC State baseball team tallied 15 hits and received a stellar outing on the mound from freshman Reid Johnston to earn a 9-2 victory against No. 3 Duke Friday night at Jack Coombs Field.
The Wolfpack records its fourth consecutive win and seventh in its last eight games to take a 1-0 lead in the series against the Blue Devils. NC State, which leads the ACC in scoring, has now scored at least eight runs in eight consecutive games.
NC State moves to 30-7 on the year and 14-5 in ACC play, while Duke falls to 30-9 and 12-6 in conference action. Johnston remains unbeaten on the season and improves to 6-0 with the win, while Blue Devils starter Adam Laskey falls to 6-3.
Quick Hits
– NC State struck first in the contest for the fourth consecutive game, after Terrell Tatum scored on an RBI single through the left side by Brock Deatherage.
– Duke countered in the bottom half of the inning with a run to even the score at one after a triple by Kennie Taylor and an RBI groundout by Griffin Conine.
– The Wolfpack answered in its next at-bat with three runs to grab a 4-1 lead.
– Evan Edwards drove in Brett Kinneman on a single to center field and Tatum had the big hit in the frame with a two-RBI single up the middle with the bases loaded.
– NC State scored four runs in the fourth to break the game open and tally its 22nd ‘big’ inning (four or more runs in an inning) of the season.
– Dillon Cooper reached on a bunt single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Wilson to make it 5-1.
– Two batters later, freshman Patrick Bailey hit a bases-clearing triple to deep center field to push the Pack’s lead to 8-1.
– Duke got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but NC State returned the favor with a run in the sixth to retake a seven-run advantage.
– Will Wilson doubled and came around to score on a single by Edwards to give NC State a 9-2 lead.
Inside the Box Score
– Eight of the nine batters in NC State’s lineup tallied at least one hit in the contest.
– Josh McLain turned in a 3-for-5 performance with a run, while Deatherage also had a three-hit outing with an RBI.
– NC State was 7-for-12 in the game with runners on base and limited Duke to 1-for-10 with runners.
On the Mound
– Johnston delivered a gem for the Wolfpack with a career-long 6.2 innings pitched and limited the Blue Devils to just four hits, while striking out three batters.
– Nolan Clenney relieved the freshman in the seventh and threw the final 2.1 innings. He fanned four batters, highlighted by striking out the side in the ninth.
On Deck
NC State and Duke will return to the field for game two of the series at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.
#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
#20 NC State lost to UNC-Wilmington 4-5 this evening at home, losing their 5th straight midweek game. The Wolfpack were swept by the Seahawks this year, ironically losing 4-5 down in Wilmington on April 9th.
Freshman Ryan Marohn got the starting nod, and he was excellent, giving up 1 earned run in 5 innings pitched, striking out 7. It was arguably his best start since his collegiate debut against VCU in the opening series.
Sophomore Shane Van Dam was Mr. Reliable through much of the season, but he hasn’t had his best stuff as of late. This evening, he faced four batters, hitting 2, walking another, and surrendering a hit to the other. Van Dam failed to record an out, and gave up 3 earned runs. Heading into the UNC game back on April 18th, Van Dam had a 2.63 ERA. After the past 4 appearances, his ERA has shot up to 3.96.
Freshman Jacob Dudan settled things down, pitching 4 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 hit, while striking out 5.
Unfortunately, Sophomore Derrick Smith allowed the Seahawks to score a run in the Top of the 10th, which was enough for the opposing team to leave Raleigh with a win, with NC State failing to score a run in the final 5 frames.
Junior Jacob Cozart continues an insane power surge, hitting two more Home Runs tonight. Cozart has hit 7 Home Runs in the past 6 games.
*Scheduled tweet* pic.twitter.com/eHvyuGT6so
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
SCOREBOARD SHOT 🚀 pic.twitter.com/tMvY8imzgG
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
Cozart now has 14 Home Runs on the year. His previous career high was 11.
Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington also hit a Solo Home Run, his 11th bomb of the year.
Goodbye Baseball ✌️#Pack9 | @Garrettpenn14 pic.twitter.com/p0tySYt3aF
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 30, 2024
On Friday, the Wolfpack will head down to Tallahassee for a 3-game series against #7 Florida State.
