NC State Cools Off UNCW 8-4

Wednesday, April 13

Doak Field

7:00 PM

NC State

25-10

UNC-Wilmington

24-12

UNC Wilmington

NC State

4/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 13, 2005

Final Stats

RALEIGH, N.C. - A five-run second inning and solid pitching by reliever Jason Duncan Wednesday night lifted NC State to an 8-4 victory over UNC Wilmington at Doak Field. With the win, the Wolfpack improves to 25-10 overall, and has won 10 of its last 12 games. The loss, which snapped an 11-game winning streak for the Seahawks and was only the second in their last 19 games, drops UNCW to 24-12.

NC State lefthander Jason Duncan (3-0) got the win with four innings of shutout relief. He allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out a career-high seven. Seahawks starter Zach Booker (3-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs, four earned on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two.

Lee Mezistrano led the Wolfpack, going 3-for-5 on the night with one RBI. Aaron Bates hit his fifth home run, a solo shot in the fifth inning. Matt Camp, Aaron Cone and Ramon Corona each drove in a run. Tim Preston went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and an RBI to lead the Seahawks. Kenny Smith also tacked on two hits and scored twice for UNCW.

The Seahawks jumped out to an early lead when Chris Hatcher connected on a leadoff home run over the right-field wall to start the first inning. NC State answered in the bottom of the first. Camp reached first on an infield single, then stole second with one down. Booker walked Ryan Pond and Mezistrano reached on an infield single, with Camp scoring all the way from second on the play.

In the top of the second, UNCW's Kenny Smith reached second base on an error by left fielder Aaron Cone. With one out, Michael Marbry singled up the middle, scoring Smith.

Booker walked Matt Mangini and Caleb Mangum leading off the bottom of the second. Jonathan Diaz moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt, and Booker gave up the tying run on a wild pitch that also sent Mangum to third. Camp doubled to center field to score Mangum and give NC State a 3-2 lead. Cone connected on another double, this time to left-center, to bring in Camp for a 4-2 advantage. With Cone on second, the Seahawks pulled Booker for reliever Thomas Benton, who walked Bates and Pond to load the bases. Mezistrano struck out, but Corona reached first on a throwing error by Benton, enabling two runs to score and give the Pack a 6-2 lead.

UNCW cut the lead to three on a home run to left by Preston to start the third inning. In the top of the fourth, Smith doubled to left, took third on a wild pitchand scored on Marbry's sacrifice fly to right field, making the score 6-4.

Two outs into the bottom of the fourth, NC State got things started again on a single to left by Mezistrano, who went to second on a passed ball. Corona singled through the left side to drive in Mezistrano.

Bates went the opposite way with his homer in the bottom of the fifth to give NC State an 8-4 lead.

The Wolfpack resumes Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend when it travels to Wake Forest for a three-game series. Game times are set for 3 p.m. on Friday, 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. All three games will be broadcast live on WKNC-FM (88.1) and will be available on gopack.com through Yahoo's subscription service. Live in-game stats will be available on the Gametracker.