NC State baseball (4-6, 1-5 ACC) returns to action this weekend against its third nationally-ranked opponent of the season when it hosts No. 7 Louisville (11-5, 4-2 ACC) in a three-game series at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The teams will play Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m., and all three contests will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra. There will additionally be a free audio stream on WKNC 88.1 FM and the TuneIn App.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
With the recent updates to capacity guidelines for Doak Field at Dail Park, NC State Athletics is able to increase fan attendance for the remainder of the season. NC State student-athletes, NC State students and NC State baseball season ticket holders will all have increased allotments for upcoming games.
A full concessions menu on the first base side will be provided for fans. Both cash and credit card will be accepted. Fans are no longer permitted to bring in outside food but are still allowed to bring in an unopened bottle of water.
STARTING PITCHERS
Friday LHP Evan Justice (NCSU) vs. LHP Michael Kirian (UL)
Saturday RHP Sam Highfill (NCSU) vs. RHP Glenn Albanese (UL)
Sunday TBA (NCSU) vs. TBA (UL)
SCOUTING LOUISVILLE
The Cardinals had a four-game win streak snapped with a 6-3 loss to Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday in its last time out. Louisville had just come off of a series sweep over No. 13 Boston College to improve to 4-2 in ACC action.
Louisville, who reached the College World Series in 2019, was picked as this year's overall regular season champion in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Six different players were tabbed preseason All-Americans by at least one major publication, including Alex Binelas and Henry Davis who were recently named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. Davis currently leads the squad offensively with a .411 batting average, 23 hits and 16 runs batted in.
Starting pitcher Michael Kirian, a Preseason All-American and NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List nominee, currently leads the pitching staff with three wins in 16 innings pitched. Eight different players have tallied double-digit strikeouts so far this season, led by Adam Elliott who has fanned 21 in his five appearances.