Wolfpack Blanks Spartans to Wrap Up Non-Conference Slate
No. 23 NC State (27-18, 13-10 ACC) capped off its non-conference schedule with a dominant shutout victory over Norfolk State (11-36, 6-21 NEC) Tuesday evening at Doak Field, 18-0.
Ryan Marohn (3-2, 3.83 ERA) earned the victory over the Spartans, allowing just three hits over 4-2/3 innings. Jaxon Lucas, Heath Andrews, and Hollis Fanning came into the game in relief to close out the shortened seven-inning game, holding Norfolk State hitless across the final 2-1/3 frames.
The Wolfpack got the scoring started early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After drawing a leadoff walk and moving to third on a double by Garrett Pennington, Eli Serrano, III came home on a sacrifice fly by Alec Makarewicz. jacob Cozart and Brandon Butterworth followed with back-to-back double to drive home Pennington and Cozart, respectively.
One inning later, two more runs would be added to NC State’s total. Alex Sosa and Serrano would lead off with back-to-back singles with Sosa racing to third base on Serrano’s base hit, putting him in prime position to score on Pennington’s sacrifice fly. Makarewicz then plated Serrano on a ground-rule double, making it a 5-0 lead.
The scoring continued in the third inning with three Pack players crossing the plate in the frame. Noah Soles reached base by drawing a one-out walk. Two batters later, Sosa hit his second home run of the season over the wall in right field. Serrano followed by reaching base via error, moving into scoring position on a wild pitch, then racing home on a Makarewicz single. extending NC State’s advantage to eight runs.
After a quiet fourth inning on offense, the Wolfpack opened the floodgates with nine runs in the bottom of the fifth. Makarewicz catalyzed the run with a one-out single before Carson Falsken replaced him on the base paths. Cozart and Butterworth followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases for Luke Nixon who also drew a base on balls to bring Falsken home. Andrew Shaffner responded with a two-run single to drive Cozart and Butterworth in to score. Matt Heavner then doubled Nixon home to make it a 12-0 lead. After a walk by Sosa to load the bases yet again, Serrano knocked a base hit up the middle with Shaffner crossing the plate before Heavner and Sosa came home on a two-run base knock by Pennington who was the 10th batter of the inning.
Falsken, getting his first at-bat of the game, responded with an RBI single to drive Serrano home. After another base hit by Cozart, the inning ended on a sacrifice fly double play that saw Butterworth fly out to right field and Pennington score before Falksen got tagged out on the play. The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth when Sosa again came to bat with the bases loaded and grounded out to second base, allowing Drew Lanphere to cross home plate.
The Wolfpack next ventures to Charlottesville, Va. to face the No. 10 Virginia Cavaliers for a three-game series beginning Friday. First pitch from Disharoon Park is set for 7 p.m.