CLEMSON, S.C. – NC State completed the program’s first-ever sweep at Clemson Sunday afternoon, as the 10th-ranked Wolfpack turned away the second-ranked Tigers with a 5-4 win in the series finale at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Sophomore Will Wilson recorded his first career multi-home run game, headlined by the go-ahead homer in the eighth and Joe O’Donnell earned the win on the mound with three scoreless innings of relief.
NC State moves to 18-3 on the year and 5-1 in ACC play, while Clemson falls to 16-4 and 3-3 in conference action.
"I think we're playing extremely well right now,” said head coach Elliott Avent. "We just continue to go about our business and we don't get too high or too low whether we're ahead or behind.
"It's great to watch our team play right now, a lot of people are stepping up. [Kent] Klyman came in and gave us some momentum and then Will [Wilson] gets the big hit and Joe O’Donnell was really good.
"Clemson's a very good team and awfully tough at home. They have a very dangerous lineup and I thought our pitching staff and Coach Foxhall did a tremendous job all weekend."
- For the second time in the series, NC State struck first with a solo home run in the top of the first.
- Will Wilson launched the second pitch of his at-bat over the left field wall for his fifth home run of the year, giving the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead.
- Clemson responded with a run in the bottom of the frame on a solo homer from Logan Davidson and two in the second to take a 3-1 advantage.
- The Wolfpack answered in the top of the third with a pair of runs to even the score at three, after a two-run homer from Josh McLain, his second of the year.
- The Tigers capitalized on a miscue by NC State to pull ahead 4-3 with an unearned run in the fourth.
- From there, it was all NC State as the Wolfpack scored in the sixth and eighth inning and did not allow another Clemson runner to get past first base.
- Wilson walked and scored in the sixth before leaving the yard for the second time on the day with a solo shot in the eighth, giving NC State a 5-4 lead on his sixth homer of the season.
- He finished the series with a .500 batting average, six hits, four RBI and four runs.
- NC State earned its first-ever sweep in Clemson and its first sweep against the Tigers since 1997 when the Wolfpack accomplished the feat in Raleigh.
- Wilson extended his reached base safely streak to 36 games in the contest, dating back to last season.
- NCSU outscored Clemson, 15-5, during the series and only allowed three extra-base hits and they all came in today’s game.
- The Wolfpack hit three home runs in the game to rank second in the NCAA with 38 on the year.
- NC State is now 9-1 on the year when hitting more than one homer in a game.
NC State is back in action next weekend when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets visit Doak Field at Dail Park for a three-game series. Friday’s game is set for 6:30 p.m.
