NC State Baseball
Third-Ranked Duke Defeats #2 NC State to Avoid Sweep
DURHAM, N.C. – After winning Friday and Saturday’s games to clinch the series, third-ranked Duke avoided the series sweep with an 11-2 win against No. 2 NC State Sunday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.
The Wolfpack remains the only team in the ACC that has not lost a series this season and has won 10 consecutive league series dating back to last year.
NC State moves to 31-8 on the year and 15-6 in conference action, while Duke improves to 31-10 and 13-6 in ACC play.
Quick Hits
– Duke jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the contest on one swing of the bat, as Griffin Conine hit a grand slam over the right field wall.
– NC State answered with a run in its next at-bat after a leadoff double by Evan Edwards and an RBI single by Brock Deatherage to make it 4-1.
– Josh McLain doubled in the top of the fifth to cut the Blue Devils lead to 4-2, as Terrell Tatum stole third and scored on the play.
– Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, Duke countered in the bottom half with six runs to pull away thanks to a bases-clearing double by Max Miller and a two-run blast from Jack Labosky.
Inside the Box Score
– McLain’s double extended his hitting streak to eight games and he finished the week 11-for-18 at the plate to compile a .611 batting average.
– Tatum walked in the fifth to stretch his reached base safely streak to 10 games, but his eight-game hitting streak was snapped.
– The freshman also tallied his eighth stolen base of the year in the game.
– Will Wilson singled in the sixth to push his hitting streak to eight games and extend his reached base safely streak to 10 games.
– Sophomore Michael Bienlien started on the mound for the Wolfpack and was charged with the loss, while Duke’s starter Ryan Day earned the win.
On Deck
NC State returns to action Tuesday evening when the East Carolina Pirates make the trip to Raleigh for a midweek matchup. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park.
#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.
After sweeping Ball State this past weekend, NC State jumped up in almost all of the Top-25 polls.
Baseball America – 13th (+4)
RPI – 20th (+9)
D1Baseball – 20th (+1)
USAToday Coaches Poll – 20th (+3)
Perfect Game – 25th (-)
