NC State pitcher Jacob Dudan met with the media to discuss NC State's series win over Princeton.
Do you even know what was exciting today, like just for you kind of just being that seemed like you found a rhythm and just were able to stay in it the whole thing?
Yeah, today was fun for me. I found good command in my slider and sinker and forced him early. And that took me all the way through seven innings.And I can't say enough about the defense behind me and the hitting, which the hitting putting up 16 runs allowed me to kind of settle in even more. And take less pressure off me.
I know coming into the year you really wanted to be able to go longer in the games. How much does this feel, how much does this kind of check that box for you knowing you can go to seven innings and pitch really well?
Yeah, so I think I threw 86 pitches and in the seventh inning I was still throwing 97 with the fastball. So that was big for me, knowing that I still have that below in me later in the game.
You had 11 strikeouts. It seemed like you were really getting guys before they could even put the ball in play, what was the key to that success?
Yeah, just being able to land off speed early. I think they were really trying to settle or sell out on fastball early in the count. So being able to get ahead with the slider and eventually play the sinker and forcing him off that was crucial for me today.
How happy are you with these first two starts? They both seem to have gone well and kind of making this transition to the slider.
Yeah, super excited about the first two. But I know I can definitely get a lot better, especially with the change ups. Only really threw like three of them today, but just the command for that can get a little bit better. So just keep working for it.
Is this kind of a more proven, obviously you know you believe you can start. But how much does it help kind of be able to prove it now and really put up good eyes back to back weekends?
Yeah, it's huge. Coming in this year, of course, that was a big goal for me. And just coming out and showing that I can go back to back weeks, two good starts, it's been very big for me.
