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NC State Baseball

Highfill Blanks Irish in Series Opener

March 28, 2024
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No. 22 NC State (16-7, 6-4 ACC) opened its three-game series over Notre Dame (14-10, 2-8 ACC) with a run-rule shutout Thursday evening at Doak Field, 10-0.

Sam Highfill (3-1, 3.09 ERA) dominated the Fighting Irish with eight shutout innings on the mound. The Apex, N.C. native fanned a career-high 10 batters and held Notre Dame without a hit until the bottom of the sixth with two men out. Highfill finished the game with three hits surrendered on 110 pitches.

Matt Bedford (1-4, 5.60 ERA) picked up the loss for the Irish after giving up five runs on six hits and one walk over 3-2/3 innings. Notre Dame used seven pitchers on the night with David Lally, Jr. surrendering an unearned run while D.J. Helwig was credited with the remaining four runs, three earned, over just 1/3 inning pitched.

The Wolfpack broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Brandon Butterworth got the ball rolling with an RBI double to drive Josh Hogue home. Garrett Pennington plated Butterworth and Luke Nixon three batters later with a double before coming home on a two-run homer by Alec Makarewicz.

Hogue scored another run in the sixth inning. After leading off with a walk, the North Palm Beach, Fla. native moved into scoring position on a passed ball before scampering to third on a groundout. Butterworth brought Hogue home with a sacrifice fly to right field.

The final four insurance runs came in the bottom of the eighth. Eli Serrano, III led off with a single, moved to second on a beanball to Hogue, then scored on a pinch-hit single by Drew Lanphere. Butterworth drove Hogue home on a fielder’s choice. After Nixon got hit by a pitch, Noah Soles plated Butterworth with a base hit to left field that put Nixon on third base. One passed ball later, Nixon scored to put NC State in the win column.

The Pack will look to win the series with a victory Friday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Highfill Blanks Irish in Series Opener

2,915 Views | 15 Replies | Last: 6 mo ago by WilsonWolf
GrayWolf98
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We need an ace and Highfill looks like he is taking that role.
The artist formerly known as LuvtheHerb - DONT PANIC!
StateFan2001
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Yep, really good to see the way Highfill is throwing the ball right now. Happy for him and really much needed for the team.
Wolfer79
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Wolfer79
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Wolfer79
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Wolfer79
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Wolfer79
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Wolfer79
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Wolfer79
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Lsnoel3
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Sam was really pounding the zone last night with all his pitches. Best control since his injury IMHO.
wilmwolf
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Taking zero away from Sam, because it was a special performance, but if he got the same strike zone every night as he did last night, we'd never lose. Lol. The ump was consistent with it for both sides, but there definitely were a lot of pitches on the edge or just off the plate that we don't typically seem to see called strikes.
Just a guy on the sunshine squad.
The Gatekeeper.
Homer Dumbarse.
StateFan2001 will probably respond to this.
GrayWolf98
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And its a pitchers job to take advantage of that strike zone. Good for Sam.
The artist formerly known as LuvtheHerb - DONT PANIC!
Wolfer79
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tau06
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wilmwolf said:

Taking zero away from Sam, because it was a special performance, but if he got the same strike zone every night as he did last night, we'd never lose. Lol. The ump was consistent with it for both sides, but there definitely were a lot of pitches on the edge or just off the plate that we don't typically seem to see called strikes.


Thought the same thing but he took advantage of it.

We have struggled in our losses to put hitters away in 0-2 or 1-2 counts. Sam had the breaking ball working last night and it was a true out pitch. That along with the fastball playing great last night was a really tough combination. Keep it up!
WilsonWolf
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Looked to me like Highfill was able to stretch the ump's zone as the game went on. He was in command all night long
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