North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Batters on Record Pace
4/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 18, 2006
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - The scores coming out of NC State's series at Maryland last weekend sounded like something you would expect to see on the scoreboard at Byrd Stadium. But this sport was baseball and the venue Shipley Field. After battering Terrapins pitching to the tune of 33 runs and 59 hits over three games, NC State did nothing to hurt its status as one of college baseball's most formidable offensive forces.
Coming out of the weekend, the Wolfpack is ranked among the leaders in a number of offensive categories. The Pack's team batting average of .351 is second only to Jackson State, which is hitting 370 as a team. To put that number into perspective, the 2006 edition of the Wolfpack is on a pace that would challenge the all-time school mark set by the 1988 squad, which batted .346 in 61 games.
Currently ranked 7th in the latest Collegiate Baseball Poll, NC State (30-10, 13-5) leads the nation in hits (514), RBIs (342), and on base percentage (.441)
The Pack is also 2nd in walks (210), sacrifices (33), and ranks 3rd in doubles (103) and total bases (751).
NC State's slugging percentage of .513 is the 8th best figure in the country.
Although it is not a dominant home run hitting team, the Wolfpack does have 38 long balls, a respectable figure that ranks fifth in the power-laden ACC.
Individually, four NC State players are among the top 10 hitters in the league, with second baseman Ramon Corona's .395 average trailing only Virginia's Brandon Marsh (.421) and Jay Cox of North Carolina (.414).
Third baseman Matt Mangini (.391), first baseman Aaron Bates (.385) and centerfielder Matt Camp (.384) are also in the top 10.
Of the nine Wolfpack regulars who have more than 100 at bats this season, a total of eight are hitting .329 or better.
No one has been hotter than Corona, who has lit up ACC pitching with a .463 average in conference games. The sophomore from Coral Gables also leads the league in hits (70) and doubles (16), and is second in total bases with 104.
After facing off against East Carolina in a non-conference home game at Doak Field tonight, the Wolfpack will resume conference play with a big weekend series at North Carolina on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
