Pack Blanks Phoenix

NC State shuts out Elon in the Wolfpack's first road game of the 2019 season.

After a three-game sweep over Bucknell to start the 2019 campaign, NC State (4-0) took to the road for the first time this year and holds Elon (3-1) scoreless as the Wolfpack exits leaves Latham Park with the win, 5-0.

Despite State being held to only four hits, junior shortstop Will Wilson catalyzed the Pack offense after five scoreless innings with a leadoff home run in the top of the sixth inning for his only hit of the game. Senior first baseman Evan Edwards finished 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored.

After junior right-handed pitcher Michael Bienlien and freshman right-hander Baker Nelson each pitched 2-1/3 innings, sophomore southpaw Evan Justice (1-0, 0.00 ERA) picked up the win after allowing only three hits and a walk in 2-1/3 innings of his own. Junior righty Mathieu Gauthier finished the final two innings.

Wilson’s solo home run gave the Pack the advantage in the sixth inning before the State offense tacked on three runs in the top of the eighth. Sophomore left fielder Jonny Butler reached base on a one-out walk. After Butler stole second, Wilson and sophomore catcher Patrick Bailey drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Edwards who doubled to drive Butler and Wilson home. After Bailey failed to steal home on a wild pitch, Edwards scored on another wild pitch in the same at-bat.

NC State’s final run came in the top of the ninth. Freshman third baseman Vojtech Mensik walked and stole second to start the inning. After moving to third on a groundout, the Brno, Czech Republic native scored on a wild pitch.

The Wolfpack will look to continue its momentum into this weekend’s series in South Carolina as NC State will face Kent State at TicketReturn.Com Field in Myrtle Beach Friday afternoon starting at 2 p.m. Afterward, the Pack will face Michigan State Saturday at 11 a.m. and Coastal Carolina Sunday at 3 p.m. in Conway, S.C.