Having already won its first three conference series, No. 1 NC State (27-2, 10-2 ACC) hosted Coastal Division foe Virginia (16-12, 6-6 ACC) for the Wolfpack’s fourth three-game set in conference play. After dropping the series opener, State won on Saturday and Sunday to maintain its position atop the Atlantic Division.
Surrendering four runs in the first five innings, the Wolfpack found itself facing what would be an insurmountable as State, despite rallying in the ninth, fell short Friday evening, 4-3.
Junior right-handed pitcher Jason Parker (3-1, 2.08 ERA) picked up the loss after giving up all three Cavalier runs in his 4-1/3 innings of work, striking out four while allowing eight hits and three walks. Junior right-hander Andrew Blake shut out the Wahoos in the final 4-2/3 frames with six strikeouts and only four hits allowed.
After already surrendered four runs to the visitors, the Wolfpack plated its first run in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman third baseman Vojtech Mensik reached on a two-out walk following a walk and a double play. After a walk to sophomore left fielder Jonny Butler, Mensik scored on a single by junior shortstop Will Wilson.
Freshman outfielder Luca Tresh sparked the Pack’s final spurt of offense in the bottom of the ninth. After a leadoff double for sophomore second baseman David Vazquez, the Safety Harbor, Fla. native drilled his second home run of the season over the wall in right-center. However, a strikeout and back-to-back pop-outs killed the rally, securing the win for the Cavaliers.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Reid Johnston (4-0, 2.21 ERA) led the way for the Wolfpack Saturday evening, only allowing six Cavalier hits and one walk while striking out seven batters in nine innings of shutout baseball as NC State evened the series, 3-0.
Johnston’s complete-game shutout marked the first of its kind for the Pack since Carlos Rodon’s 10-strikeout, two-hit performance against William & Mary in the opening game of the 2013 NCAA Raleigh Regional. His outing was also the first complete game for an NC State pitcher since Brian Brown’s game against Army in the 2019 NCAA Raleigh Regional.
The Wolfpack brought its first run home in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman center fielder Tyler McDonough reached on a fielder’s choice with senior first baseman Evan Edwards getting thrown out at second after leading off with a single. After a strikeout, McDonough scored on a double by Vazquez.
Butler added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for State’s final runs of the game. Vazquez led off the frame with a walk. After a pair of strikeouts, Butler came to the plate and drilled a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right field for the Channahon, Ill. product’s first home run in a Wolfpack uniform.
NC State carried its momentum from Saturday’s shutout win into Sunday afternoon’s contest at Doak Field to clinch the series by winning, 8-7.
Junior shortstop Will Wilson led the way offensively for the Wolfpack with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate with three doubles, two runs batted in, and one run scored. Butler and McDonough both had two hits on the day with Butler hitting a triple and scoring twice while McDonough had a double, a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored.
Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Dalton Feeney started on the mound and allowed one run on three hits in his 3-1/3 innings, striking out three Cavalier batters before leaving. Sophomore left-hander Evan Justice followed with 1-2/3 innings of work during which he allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits.
Freshman righty Baker Nelson succeeded Justice and gave up four runs in 1-1/3 innings before sophomore southpaw Nick Swiney (2-0, 9.78 ERA) finished pitching the seventh inning to pick up the win. Junior right-hander Michael Bienlien pitched the eighth inning with a strikeout before junior lefty Kent Klyman and redshirt freshman righty Cameron Cotter pitched the ninth. Klyman left after recording an out and a walk, allowing Cotter to pick up his first collegiate save.
The Pack got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Edwards led off with a walk. McDonough doubled afterward, and junior designated hitter Brad Debo walked to load the bases for Vazquez who flew out to allow Edwards to score on a sacrifice fly.
The Wahoos plated two runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead, but State answered with a run to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Once again, Edwards led off with a walk, but McDonough replaced him on a fielder’s choice that saw Edwards forced out at second base. After a groundout that moved him to second, McDonough scored on an RBI single from Vazquez.
Virginia took the lead in the fifth by scoring a run, but the Pack struck back with two runs in the home half of the frame. Mensik led off with a double. Butler followed with a single. Wilson plated Mensik with a fielder’s choice with Butler beating the toss to second on the play. After a fly-out moved the runners to second and third, Butler scored on a wild pitch.
The Cavs regained the lead in the top of the seventh with four runs, but after the stretch, the Pack took the lead for good with four runs of its own. Butler led off with a triple then scored on an RBI double by Wilson. After a groundout that moved him to third, Wilson scored on an Edwards single. McDonough then drilled a two-run shot over the wall in right field for his third homer of the season.
The Wolfpack returns to action Tuesday evening as NC State travels to Charlotte to take on South Carolina at BB&T Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
