Wolfpack Downs Tigers In Series Opener, 8-3

Friday, April 22

Doak Field

7:00 PM

NC State

29-11, 0

Clemson

24-15, 0

Clemson

NC State

4/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 22, 2005

Final Stats

RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State hit a season-high seven doubles and four Wolfpack pitchers combined on a seven-hitter as the Pack defeated Clemson win 8-3 in the first game of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series Friday at Doak Field.

The Wolfpack is now 29-11 overall and 10-9 in the conference. Clemson falls to 24-15 overall and 11-5 in the conference. Phillip Davidson pitched five innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs to earn his fourth (4-3) victory of the season. He walked three and struck out three. Sam Walls pitched one inning of relief putting down the side on just eight pitches. Jason Duncan gave two scoreless innings of relief, before Joey Devine struck out the side in the ninth to close out the win. He has struck out the last six batters he has faced. Kris Harvey (5-2) took the loss for the Tigers after allowing five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four.

Aaron Bates had career high four hits, which ties a season high in hits by a Wolfpack player. Bates hit a pair of doubles and drove in a pair of runs. Ramon Corona and Jonathan Diaz, the Wolfpack's South Florida double-play combinations, each went 3-for-5, doubled twice and had two RBIs.

Clemson started the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Herman Demmick led off with a single and advanced to second after Brad Chalk walked. Taylor Harbin's sacrifice fly advanced Demmick to third and Chalk moved to second on a throwing error on the play. Tyler Colvin's sacrifice fly drove in Demmick.

NC State answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Brian Aragon reached first when he was hit by a pitch. Bates followed with an RBI double to left-center-field to bring Aragon across the plate.

The Wolfpack added a run in the bottom of the second. Bryan Kinneberg led off with a walk and was moved to second by Matt Devine's sacrifice bunt. Following a strikeout, Diaz doubled to left to score Kinneberg.

NC State broke open a four-run lead and chased Harvey from the mound in the fourth inning. Corona started the inning with a single to right. Diaz followed with a bloop single to left center. A sacrifice bunt by Matt Camp allowed Corona to score and moved Diaz to second. Bates' second RBI double of the night brought in Diaz to make it 5-1 and ended Harvey's night on the mound.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Johnson led off with a single to right to start the fifth. Following a single by Matt Devine, Corona hit a double that brought Johnson home.

Clemson cut the lead to three runs at 6-3 in the sixth with a two-run homer by Harvey, who remained in the game as the designated hitter. Colvin reached base on a single and Harvey followed with a shot over the wall in left-center.

The Wolfpack added two more runs in the eighth. Corona belted a two-out double on a hit-and-run play to drive in Matt Devine, who reached base on a walk. Diaz followed with a double to score Corona.

NC State and Clemson will play the second game of the series on Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WKNC-FM (88.1) and the broadcast will be available on the internet on gopack.com through Yahoo's subscription service. The game will be televised on cable affiliate C-SET.